by Julia Bright
Survive The Fall
Julia Bright
Survive the Fall Copyright © 2018 Julia Bright
Cover Copyright © 2018 Sara York
Advance Reader Copy
Electronic Edition
This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
License Notes
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of Julia Bright
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1
Forget. Forget. Forget. Echoed through Kelsey's mind. Two drinks wasn't enough. She needed the full bar of alcohol to forget what had happened. She wouldn't think of her dad or her brother in pain as they lay dying. The only thing she would focus on was the alcohol.
With the late flight, she'd told Gramps he could pick her up in the morning. The old coot didn't need to be driving so far this late. Plus, one night in town with a bar full of alcohol would help her get her head straight.
The bartender placed another shot in front of her along with a beer, giving her hope of erasing the rogue thoughts clouding her mind. She lifted the glass to take a drink when her eyes caught broad shoulders and a sexy smile. She blinked, focusing on the guy in the mirror. A thick beard covered his rugged face, dark eyes met hers, and hot lust ripped through her. An image the FBI agent had shown her flashed in her mind, and she shivered. Alcohol hadn't helped her forget what her brother and dad had been through, but maybe sex would.
She put the shot glass to her lips and threw it back quick like her dad had taught her. That thought burned worse than the tequila, and she almost lost it. Her shoulders curled in as anguish filled her. Forcing the pain away, she sat up straight then turned to stare at the hot guy. He was a little rough around the edges, but that's what she wanted. She wanted dangerous and dirty sex that would blank her brain of the twisted memories of her father and brother’s painful death.
The man turned to face her, his brows lifted. Normally, she wouldn't hit on guys at bars like this, but she didn't care how desperate she looked today. She moved to the stool next to his and decided the blunt approach was best.
“You're hot, and I need sex. How about we finish our drinks and then you come back to my room?”
The guy's eyes flicked lower. His lips curved into a wicked smile when his gaze met hers again. “It's dangerous to pick up guys like me in a bar.”
“You don't scare me.” She thought maybe her words slurred from the alcohol she’d already consumed. This was crazy, which made it even more dangerous. Maybe he’d inflict some pain to take away from the slicing agony in her heart. “Besides, I want a little danger.”
“Why don't you go back to your room alone? It would be safer.”
The guy sounded too logical, but logic had no place in her life at the moment. No doubt, she'd spend the night crying if she went back to her room alone. She shook her head. “I don't care about safe, not tonight.”
He studied her face as he took a long pull from his beer. She mimicked him, finishing about half of a new bottle she'd received with the shot. He gave a sharp nod before he turned to face the bartender.
“Her tab clear?”
“It is,” the bartender said.
He threw a ten down on the dark wood surface and stood as he held out his hand. She took it and stepped off her stool, her knees dipping a little before she straightened. He was a few inches taller than her, which was nice for a change. Usually, guys were shorter which made dating in high school not so much fun. Hell, she'd always been a little too much for guys. Intimidated by her height, her looks, her intelligence, or maybe one of the other many things that defined her, men shied away.
After two steps she wobbled and reached out. The guy held out his arm, and she took it, glad he was willing to help her. Walking took concentration, but with her hand on his arm, it was difficult to think.
Dating around hadn't been her thing. She liked to get to know a guy before sex which meant she didn’t sleep around. She wasn't a prude, but not once had she ever taken a guy back to a hotel room. One time, she'd gone back to a guy's room, but it had only been the one time. When she stepped into the lobby, a twist of self-conscious guilt raced through her, but no one questioned them as they walked over to the elevator.
When they hit her room, the man took the keycard from her shaking hands and opened the door.
The door shut with a finality that chilled her. What was she doing? She had no clue who this man was or what he would do. A sliver of fear raced down her spine. The pain of the last few days dulled. This was exactly what she needed.
The man smiled and cupped her cheek, his rough thumb grazing over her skin. His spicy scent filled her nostrils as she took in his brown eyes that were hooded by his furrowed brows. His lips were full and would probably wreak havoc on her. Her gaze flicked to his shoulders and she sighed. This man was big and powerful, but he was also sweet and gentle. Warmth spread through her limbs, but still, her heart was cold.
She had to use the bathroom, so before he could pull her into a hug or a kiss, she stepped away.
“Just gotta use...um. I'll be right out.”
He nodded before she closed the door. She sat on the toilet, her mind racing. What was she doing? This guy didn't know her. Hell, her grandfather would be pissed she was here at this hotel, thinking about having sex with a total stranger. Her actions were stupid, but she needed a few hours to lose herself.
She stood and stared at herself in the mirror thinking she was acting irrationally. I'm crazy. Her father and brother died overseas in a terrorist attack, and here she was thinking of banging a stranger. Pain pierced hot and slow, sliding through her like a knife.
Though she was a bit out of control, crazy didn't really fit who she was. Searching for comfort was the only way she would live through this week. And knowing that about herself was the opposite of crazy, right?
She stepped out of the bathroom, half expecting the guy to be gone. He was there, standing in the middle of the room facing the window. When he spun to face her, lust shined hot in his eyes. He took two steps and pulled her into his arms. His lips descended, not giving her a chance to catch her breath.
His body tightened just before he lifted her, tugging her legs up to wrap around his waist. He pushed her to the wall, his hands on her ass. A moan escaped as he ground against her, his cock pushing on her center.
Her breath hitched as he reached under her dress and grabbed her bare thigh. The guy worked his hand closer to her center, then his fingers tugged at her panties, shoving them out of the way. She threw her head back, pushing away thoughts of safety. Nothing mattered but being blissed out by molten sex.
The guy moved them to the bed and tugged her underwear off in a swift move. She had no time to prepare before he dropped low and buried his face between her legs. He licked from her opening to her clit then did it again. Worries fled as he sucked her clit into his mouth. Her fingers wove through his hair. She held him in place, her hips pumping up as he sucked and licked, taking her to heaven.
He slid two thick fingers into her, making her see stars. The orgasm hit, and she cried out through her release.
The man chuckled as he lifted and discarded his shirt then shoved his pants low. His cock was long and thick. Her tongue curled at the sight. She needed a taste. Kelsey moved fast, grasping his cock before she sucked down, moaning as a little precum spread over her tongue. She glanced up, watching lust grow in his eyes. This was preci
sely what she needed. Every thought other than of this man in front of her scattered.
He cupped her chin and pulled his cock from her mouth. “I want to fuck you right now. Later, you can suck me, if you're up for round two.”
She stuck out her tongue and flicked it over his tip. He growled before pushing her to the mattress then flipping her over. He grasped her hips and pulled her up to her knees. She heard the condom packet in his hands then turned around and watched as he rolled it on.
He grunted and grabbed her hips, holding her still with one hand as he brushed his cock over her pussy before sliding in.
A gasp escaped as he stretched her. The guy was big, the angle perfect for her to feel every inch of his huge dick. He pulled her up so her back was plastered against his chest, one hand cupping her breast, the other splayed out over her belly.
“Let me ride you. Don't move, I'll direct everything,” he said.
She nodded, unable to speak as he took her to new heights of pleasure. His hands moved, and he was cupping both breasts. When he squeezed her nipples between his fingers, she thought she would come again. Then he pulled out and flipped her over before lifting her legs, placing them against his chest as he slid in.
At this angle, he was on display, a feast for her eyes. Packed with muscles, his abs defined, he looked like a god. At first sight, his chiseled form hadn't been so obvious. Now she noticed how freaking well built the guy was. This man was beyond molten.
He had her at the edge, ready to come again when he dropped low. His gaze met hers and held. There was something inside him that made her shiver.
His hips moved slowly as he slid in deep. Their gazes still held as he rocked into her. Suddenly this wasn't just fucking. Instead, it seemed too intense for strangers. Her heart squeezed as emotions welled. The guy blinked and adjusted. Twisted up in desire, she lost whatever it was she thought she saw. He closed his eyes before he pounded into her. The moment was lost, and it was back to two strangers fucking hard, which was precisely what she wanted.
Stars shot through her as her orgasm hit. She slammed her eyes closed as she rode the pleasure. He grunted and stiffened as he came. This was what she wanted. Mindless sex with no connections though she longed for the moment where he'd stared into her eyes. In those few seconds, something special wove between them. Something she couldn't afford with the chaos in her life.
He pulled out and dropped to the mattress beside her. He was breathing hard and had his arm thrown over his eyes. She wondered if he would jump up and run out. They had nothing between them, and no matter how hollow she felt now, he didn't owe her any cuddle time.
After a moment, he took off the condom and dropped it on the floor. Disgust rolled through Kelsey, but this wasn't her home. This was a cheap hotel, not a place she expected to be clean, but it made her think twice about walking around barefoot.
He rolled to face her, his fingers trailing over her shoulder then down her arm. When he tugged her close and snuggled against her, pulling the sheet over them, shock pulsed through her.
She had no clue what his name was, or anything else about him other than he paid for his beer with cash, and he fucked like a god. Otherwise, he was a total stranger. Maybe staying here in bed, sleeping with him was stupid, but exhaustion took over. Her last thought was of her brother and dad. She had to find out what really happened overseas, and who was responsible. Even if it took everything from her, she would avenge their deaths.
2
Adam Whitney hadn't intended on hopping into bed with the first woman he met in town after arriving. A temporary job had brought him here, a favor for a friend of his mom. He would be moving cattle for a few days, helping with some fence building and other repairs on the ranch.
He needed time to feel normal, and he couldn't do that in the Army or at home close to his mother. Maybe if he had silence, he'd have time to work through everything.
The first time his guys had been injured in Africa, he'd brushed it off. The next time, Jenkins had been blown to pieces. One second they'd been laughing about barrack bunnies, and then he was screaming, his mind reeling as Jenkins' leg had landed on another guy's lap. Pain twisted through him and he closed his eyes, but that made it worse. A shudder ripped through him, and he feared another round of flashbacks. Instead, he focused on the sleeping woman at his side.
Beautiful with soul-filled eyes, she'd surprised him. Sex was all he wanted, then he planned to walk away, but something had happened while wrapped in her arms, his cock buried deep. She was different, and he couldn't understand why a woman like this was sleeping with random men picked up at bars.
He dozed off but woke when she slid out of bed. She wasn't in the bathroom for long, and when she came out, he went in, wondering if she'd ask him to leave. He should take off. This woman didn't seem like the type of person to do random fucks, and yet here he was in her hotel room.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, he found her looking through her bag. She stood and moved closer to him.
“Hey, I guess I should take off,” Adam said.
She shrugged. “Or you could come back to bed and let me suck you.”
His cock grew hard at her suggestion. Though he knew he should walk away, lust still filled him. He held out his hand, and she moved closer, snuggling against his chest.
“What’s a woman like you doing picking up a stranger in a shitty bar like that?”
She shuddered and shook her head. “No talking about life outside these four walls. I'll suck you, fuck you, ride you, anything sex related, and we can talk about positions and what feels good, but nothing more.”
He nodded, understanding maybe a little too well. His pain from trauma suffered in war had consumed everything, but other people had issues too. Before Jenkins, emotional problems were trivial, but after watching his buddy be blown apart, he'd changed. He didn't want to talk about what had driven him to this place, and he wouldn't force her to divulge what was going on in her life.
“Fair enough.” He brushed his lips over hers then leaned back. “I'll call you Angel.”
“That's cheesy,” she said.
He chuckled. “Sure is, but that's what I'm going to call you.”
“Then I'll call you Brick because you're built like a wall.”
He laughed and nodded. “Sure, I'm good with Brick, Angel.”
“I want to suck you until you come,” she said, her eyes full of mischief.
His cock filled out the rest of the way as she trailed her fingers over his chest then lower. Hot desire washed over him. He wanted to push her up against the wall and fuck her until he couldn't see straight, but she wanted to suck his cock and who was he to stand in the way of her desires.
His dick twitched, and he tugged her closer. “I'm up for that.”
She reached down and ran her hand over his length. “You sure are.”
His heart expanded, and he let go of the past, focusing on the woman sinking to her knees. Her mouth on him felt like heaven, her body like silk. She was everything he needed at the moment. The mindlessness of getting sucked to heaven took over, and he went with the sensations.
Nothing else mattered other than Angel's mouth and his dick. He reached down and grabbed the back of her head, wondering how rough she could take it. He tested a little rock of his hips before he pulled almost all the way out then pumped back in. She took him deep, not gagging once. He wouldn't fuck her face hard, but he planned on having fun.
Her tongue played havoc on his nerves, and her fingers on his thighs felt so good. Then she reached between his legs and ran one finger over his crack to his balls.
The urge to pound in was too high. He grabbed her under the arms and lifted. He paused, realizing he needed a condom. He released her and then reached for his pants, grabbing his last condom. That was it for fun sexy time. He would need to go buy more, but where he was going, he wouldn't need them.
After rolling on the condom, he lifted her so she could wrap her legs around him. When he shov
ed in, all the noise in his head stopped. It was just the two of them. Nothing else mattered but sex with this woman.
He had her pressed against the wall, his body shaking with need. With nerves on fire, he slid into her heat. She adjusted, and their gazes held. His lungs couldn't seem to draw in enough air, and his body was on fire.
This woman had him so twisted up he doubted he'd ever get untwisted. Her pussy clamped down around him, and that pushed him to the edge. The orgasm brought stars to his eyes. His knees almost buckled, and he had to lean against the wall to stay upright.
Angel kissed his neck then up to his ear. She bit down on his lobe. A spike of pain twisted through him, mixing with the bliss of his orgasm.
“Damn Angel, that was amazing,” he gasped when he could finally talk. “Maybe I should have called you devil because you sure are wicked sexy.”
She laughed at that and patted his shoulder. “I think you deserve a gold star, Brick.”
“Hell, I'll take anything you give me.”
She chuckled as she climbed off him and headed to the bathroom. “Want to shower?”
Not the type of guy who stuck around, he didn't do the showers after sex thing either. Cuddling wasn’t on his radar, but he wanted to hold this woman. Leaving wasn't an option, so he headed into the bathroom and tossed the condom.
After he pissed, he stepped into the shower with her and grabbed the soap from her hands. She was sexy, no doubt. Her curves fit well in the palms of his hands. Though he didn't even know the woman's name, he could see himself with her, and that was his main problem. Being tied down with anyone was a risk he couldn't take. Eventually, his temper would explode, and he didn't want anyone getting hurt in the fallout. He’d seen too many of his buddies come back from war and ruin their lives because of the inevitable anger from uncontrollable emotions. He'd experienced a little of the anger after getting out. The full-blown rage fits hadn't happened to him, but he didn't want to chance it.
