His hand fell to my breast and squeezed. I let out a high-pitched scream. Next, he pinched my nipple so hard the burning sting splintered throughout my body. Another scream escaped me as I struggled against the hand holding me pinned. I twisted and bumped my hips, knowing that I couldn’t buck him off me, yet willing to try anything to make him release my breast. Paul’s cruel laughter echoed in the cellar, the demonic expression on his face revealing that he was enjoying the pain he was inflicting. His hand went to the front of my pants.
“Help! Someone help us!” Jasmine screamed as loud as she could. What was she doing? She had to know that there was no one around to hear her. Then I remembered that she’d been unconscious when we’d arrived and didn’t know how isolated we really were. She continued to scream at the top of her lungs for help, and I was certain the shrillness of her pleas was loud enough to travel beyond the farmhouse. Hope began to grow.
Maybe…
“Shut the fuck up!” Paul screamed at her. “Or the next thing I stick up your ass won’t be my cock.”
He was an animal!
“You’re a pig!” I hissed, still struggling against him.
Jasmine ignored him and continued to shout out, the sounds seeming over loud in the damp cellar. It was enough to piss Paul off and with a snarl of angry irritation, he left me and went to her. I knew what Jasmine was doing. She was trying to distract him from me but I knew that it was going to cost her. Fear for her caused me to jump to my feet and go after him. Just as he delivered a brutal punch to her mid-section I jumped on his back and brought my arms around his neck.
“No!” I cried out, pulling him back. “Leave her alone!”
“Son-of-a-bitch!” he swore with a bark of frustration, reaching back for me. I glanced over his shoulder and saw Jasmine retching. “You bitches are dead!”
I already knew that. I clawed at his eyes and face until he could drag my arms away from around his neck. Now that his attention was back on me I turned and ran for the steps. He caught my ankle halfway up and I fell hitting the stone hard. As Paul climbed up behind me I twisted onto my back and kicked out at him. But I was tiring, bruised and in pain and soon Paul was overpowering me and pinning me down with his heavier body. I lay there panting, tears filling my eyes when it dawned on me that this was it. It was over. I couldn’t fight him any longer. I was too exhausted.
I felt his hand close around my throat. His breath slapping me in the face as he gasped above me.
“Paul, no,” I pleaded through a raspy tone. “If there’s any decency left in you, don’t do this.”
“This is all your fault,” he gritted down at me, his face dark. He pulled the edges of my blouse apart. His gaze moved to my breasts. He lowered his head and I squeezed my eyes shut, sensing that he was going to bite me. “No one else will ever taste these nipples again,” he said in a kind of dazed state. “Because I’m going to bite them off.”
A chill went down my spine. I gagged when I felt his breath against my flesh, and stiffened beneath him. I could hear Jasmine crying, and whimpering helplessly in the background. Another noise sounded from somewhere above me but I was too frightened on what Paul was about to do to question it. I’d suffered a bite from Paul before and he’d been savagely vicious. I still had the scar. I braced myself for the unimaginable pain about to rack my body, even as I continued to strain against his hold to get free.
“Get the fuck off her!”
My eyes flew open at the hard-familiar voice, and I glanced up to see Paul jerk back into a sitting position, his gaze shooting to something above us. I tilted my head back enough to see the murderous expression on Big John’s face. Our eyes met.
Relief was instant.
“Hi, baby.”
In the next instant he fired his gun, the impact of the bullet going through Paul’s forehead sent him flying backwards down the steps.
I expelled a long sigh of relief, and relaxed against the steps.
Chapter 30
Daisy
I sat in the tub buried up to my neck in hot, soapy bubbles. The subtle fragrance of vanilla and lavender floated up around me, lulling me into a sense of peace and security. The security, I knew though, came from knowing that Big John was just outside the room. He had promised not to leave me, while giving me time to sit with my thoughts and come to terms with what I’d just been through.
What Jasmine and I had both just gone through.
Paul was dead, and I was going to burn in hell for being happy about that. He’d hurt Jasmine, raped her, and practically ruined her face. I’d wanted her to go to the hospital, but she’d refused, convincing me that the club doctor could take care of her. Time would heal us both. Nothing had been broken, and we’d both been lucky in that respect. Clay had been as attentive to her needs as Big John was to mine.
Once the doctor had taken care of Jasmine he’d come to Big John’s room and examined me, cleaning up my cuts to make sure that nothing needed stitches. Other than being covered in bruises, with a swollen eye and lip, and body aches all over, I’d escaped any serious damage. I’d been lucky. He’d left me with pain pills and told me that a long soak in a hot tub would help.
I brought my knees up close to my body and wrapped my arms around them. I knew that my house was gone. Paul had set it on fire after killing the man whose name I’d found out was Ross. We’d taken my car because Paul had paid for someone in town to drive him out to my place early that morning. He’d gained entrance by breaking into the back door, and had been hiding out in my apartment the entire day. It gave me chills when I thought about it now, to know that he’d been there all along, just waiting.
A shiver moved over me, and I sank lower into the warm water. Insurance would pay for the house. I could rebuild and start over. Of course, the insurance company would be notified by the fire department that it had been arson, but that wasn’t my fault. Jasmine and I had been in Portland on a shopping trip, or so we’d been advised to say when the police came calling. Jasmine had accepted the story without question, while I’d turned questioning eyes on Big John. Later, in the privacy of our room, he’d told me why it was important to stick to the story that Hawk had given Charlie.
It didn’t mean that I was happy about it. I didn’t like lying to the police, but I had to admit that I just wanted to put the whole thing behind me, and I didn’t want Big John to go to prison for killing Paul. I wasn’t going to let Paul ruin the best thing that had ever happened to me, in life or in death. He’d gotten what he deserved, and I didn’t want to know what they’d done with his body. Charlie had taken my statement over the phone and had seemed satisfied that I’d been telling her the truth. Hopefully we didn’t run into each other anytime soon, or she’d know from my appearance that there was more to the story.
The water in the tub was turning cool, but I didn’t care. When the bathroom door opened, I opened my eyes to the image of Big John standing there, looking strong and quiet. His gaze flickered over me, narrowing on what little he could see through the bubbles, as he slowly made his way to me.
“You’re going to turn into a prune,” he commented, reaching down to run the back of his hand gently over my swollen cheek.
I forced a small smile and leaned into his caress, all but purring. “I don’t care. It feels too good.”
“Well, then, let’s at least add some heat to it.” He reached for the plug, turning on the hot water at the same time. Instant heat surrounded my toes and feet.
“Thank you,” I murmured. “For everything.”
He nodded, reaching for his cut and slipping it over his shoulders. I didn’t question him when he removed his tee, and then his boots, before undoing his jeans and sliding them down. My gaze traveled over him, pausing on his cock. My smile grew bigger.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that muscle so relaxed before,” I teased.
“It won’t be for long.” He stepped carefully into the tub, nudging me forward so he could slide down behind me. Cushioned against his bo
dy with his arms around me, I released a sigh of longing and contentment. “Don’t let me hurt you,” he breathed against my ear, settling his powerful thighs on either side of mine.
“You won’t,” I assured him, watching the steam of the hot water swirling above the vanishing bubbles. I watched his foot maneuver the faucet as he turned off the water. “You have talents,” I laughed softly. He chuckled behind me but didn’t say anything. “Do you think the police will believe our story?”
“They have no reason not to, baby. Solon’s police department only has a sheriff and a few deputies. They don’t have the time or resources to explore every incident when there’s a plausible story behind it. They’ll focus on Ross’s murder.”
“I’m sorry about Ross. I didn’t know what Paul had in mind when he ordered me to ask Ross to come inside. I didn’t even know Paul owned a gun.”
“Don’t,” Big John ordered lightly, kissing the side of my neck. “It’s not your fault. That’s all on him, and he’s paid for it. He’s paid for the hell he put you and Jasmine through. Paul Singleton no longer exists.”
“He raped her, Big John.” A hiccup escaped me as emotion suddenly got the best of me.
His arms tightened around me. “I know, baby,” he replied softly. “It’ll take time, but Jasmine will be okay. Clay and you, fuck, the whole club, will see to it. She’ll get whatever she needs.”
I nodded, satisfied. Silence grew between us. We were content to sit quietly with our thoughts for a while, enjoying the close contact. I was pretty sure that I loved Big John, but I wasn’t ready to confess it yet. Now, after what had just happened, wasn’t the time. He may have thought that I was just over emotional after everything I’d been through. I shut my eyes and leaned back against him, sighing with guilt-free happiness.
I had dozed off for a few minutes when the feel of Big John’s hands moving over my breasts woke me. He’d soaped them up and was running them over the front of me, before moving down my stomach to my pussy. His touch seemed lazy and almost impersonal, yet a spark of need awakened in me. I sucked in my breath and shivered slightly. Even though I could feel his cock hardening, I got the impression that he was content to just touch me.
It was nice.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, baby,” he murmured against my ear, his hands lifting and squeezing my breasts. “So fucking responsive.” His fingers plucked at my nipples until they were hard and aching. I could feel his arousal growing, in the size of his cock and the huskiness of his voice. I rubbed my bottom against him, receiving a hiss for my efforts. “I don’t want to fuck you.”
I stiffened, trying to understand his words and what they meant, slightly dazed with lazy arousal. Intuition, along with a certain body part of his, told me that he wanted to fuck me, just not now, when he thought I was vulnerable. He didn’t want to take advantage. That was sweet of him, and made me love him more.
“When shit settles down and you’re healed, we have some things to take care of,” he surprised me by saying, running his finger over my bare mound. I moaned and spread my legs, encouraging him. “First thing is that we need to find a house. We’re not going to live here at the club.”
We’re? I liked the sound of that. “We’re not?”
“Fuck no, baby. I want a place to come home to at the end of the day. I want a woman waiting for me, with open legs.”
I laughed softly. “It’s supposed to be with opened arms.”
“That, too.” There was a teasing quality in his husky tone that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. “I want you for my old lady.” His hand cupped my sex, but it didn’t feel as sexual as it did comforting. There was no urgency in his touch, just a gentle claiming of what he wanted. “I care about you, baby. We have something, and I want to explore it. For the first time in my life I want a future with something good in it, and that’s you.” His words brought tears to my eyes. “I want to take care of you, Daisy Mae Flowers. I’ll protect you with my life. My club will protect you.”
“You love me?” I asked softly through my tears. I felt him tense slightly behind me, and I wondered if he was going to answer me. I bit down on my bottom lip as the silence filled the steamy bathroom. He’d said he cared, but I had to know how much. I wasn’t about to lose myself in a relationship that was only sexual, no matter how hot Big John was.
“Love isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel for you, woman,” he finally rasped behind me. Without warning, he picked me up and arranged me on his lap, facing him. His expression was raw, fierce, and the truth was there in his dark eyes. “You want the words, baby? I fucking love you.”
His hand found its way into my hair and he pulled me closer, slanting his mouth over mine. I released a soft moan, opening to his tender persuasion so our tongues could mesh. Smokey heat and Big John’s masculinity overwhelmed my senses, showing me so much more than any words how this man felt about me. Big John didn’t do tender, he didn’t do soft, he didn’t do slow either, yet there he was, kissing me as if he worshiped me, taking his time to convey without words that he did love me.
And I loved him.
We hadn’t known each other for very long, a mere few months, but already we’d endured more than what some people lived in a lifetime. Our life together would never be boring, that was for certain, but I knew that he would do whatever it took to take care of me. He was bossy and overbearing, and took more than he asked for, but in a way that all excited me. I had never thought that a possessive man would appeal to me after Paul, but with Big John, his possessiveness toward me revealed that he wanted me for me, and not as some object to own.
He'd claimed me like a Viking Neanderthal.
I couldn’t help myself, I grinned against his lips.
He pulled away. “This is some of my best ‘I love you’ kissing attempt, and you’re grinning at me?” He sounded offended, but there was humor in his smiling eyes. “You wound me, woman.” He slapped his hand over his heart.
“You did a good job, but I just realized that I don’t want tender from you,” I admitted, running my hand along his collarbone and shoulder. “I don’t want slow either. I like your Neanderthal ways. I like the way you claim me as your woman.” I looked into his eyes so that there would be no misunderstandings. “I like hard and rough. I like you taking control and fucking me senseless.” His eyes turned darker, his nostrils flaring slightly.
“So, is this a yes that you’ll be my old lady?”
I nodded. “But we’ll take things slowly, Big John. I like how things are between us, and it’s bound to get even better in time and with patience. I’m sure there will be some bumps along the way.”
“I’m counting on it,” he said, and I gave him a questioning look. His grin grew, curving the corners of his sexy mouth up in a way that made me hungry. “Makeup sex, baby,” He elaborated, and I rolled my eyes. “What?”’
His tone was innocent, but I wasn’t falling for it. “You are a sex maniac!” I laughed in spite of myself.
“Yep. And proud of it,” he said without shame. Suddenly he nudged me back and rose to his feet like a God rising from the ocean depths.
My gaze followed his impressive form upwards, not surprised to find that his cock was stiff and curved toward his belly. From there I followed his six-pack up to his muscle defined chest and bulging biceps. Lord, he was a sight. When he lowered his hands, I didn’t hesitate to take them and letting him pull me to my feet. He carefully stepped out of the tub and then guided me out.
I immediately reached out and curled my hand around his length. A hiss escaped him when I squeezed. “Am I hurting you?”
“Yeah.” He reached for a towel. “In a good way.”
He brought the towel up and began wiping me down, letting me have my way with him. I relished the power I held over him, feeling his strong body tremble as I worked my hand up and down his shaft. The pre-cum at the slit was thick and white, the scent of musk reaching my nose and turning my senses on.
Big John remained
quiet, running the soft towel over my shoulders and down my torso, before lowering himself to his knees. The action forced me to reluctantly release his cock. I could feel his hot breath against my flesh when he leaned forward to bring the towel around me over my butt. Goosebumps covered me, my nipples stiffened into hard peaks, and I grew wet with desire between my legs. His nose was right there, practically buried in my pussy. I caught my breath as a wave of arousal made me dizzy with need.
My hands dropped to his wet hair, and I arched into his face, so horny for him to touch me intimately. He dropped the towel and then his hands were kneading and spreading the cheeks of my ass. When he raised his eyes to mine they were clouded and half-closed with hunger. Then his gaze narrowed at something, and his hands stilled.
“You’re covered in bruises,” he rasped in a deep tone, and I sensed the guilt and frustration he felt over something that he hadn’t been able to control.
I didn’t want him to feel responsible. “They’re just bruises,” I whispered in tears.
“There’re not my bruises.”
I knew what he meant. He’d left bruises on me during sex, but there was no comparison to the marks that covered me now. It obviously bothered him that another man had hurt me and had left his mark on me. “Don’t,” I said, running my fingers through his hair. “Don’t keep him alive between us.”
He shook his head. “I told you that I would fucking protect you.”
“It’s not your fault, Big John. Paul was crazy and evil, he would have found a way regardless. You showed up when it mattered. You saved me and Jasmine from death.” Couldn’t he see that? I dropped to my knees and took his face in my hands. “You saved me when it mattered most. The bruises will fade, and so will the memory. Right here and now is what’s important. I love you!” I sobbed as tears ran down my cheeks. The moisture in his eyes killed me. I kissed him gently, tugging on his lower lip. “Love me, Big John,” I whispered against his mouth. “We have a lifetime ahead of us. Let’s make new memories.”
What He Wants (Book 3 after Phantom Riders MC-Hawk and No Mercy) Page 26
