Broken & Burned

by A. J. Downey

  “Better?” I murmured. She nodded. I steered her to the passenger side of the car and put her in it. I got in the other side and started Sadie up.

  “Where to next?” she asked.

  “Home. You got makeup running down your face.” I said. She looked into the side mirror and sighed.

  “Thanks for that.” She said and I smiled.

  “You’re welcome.” I said and took her home.

  Once inside the house I was hyperaware that it was just me and her, alone. I forced myself to sit on the couch and I let her go into my room. I resisted the urge to follow her but barely. I wanted her spread beneath me in my bed something so fierce it was turning into a deep ache inside of me. She disappeared into the bathroom and I heard the shower start and the curtain ride across the rails. I went from the couch to the kitchen but stopped when I saw the warm glow of light from the bathroom’s open door way.

  She did not just leave that door open. I thought to myself but she had and I was going to take it for the invitation that it was. I took a halting step towards the sliver of light spilling out into the hall and stopped. I closed my eyes and counted to ten.

  No. I wasn’t. She wasn’t in a good place, too much emotional rollercoaster and having me get into that shower would just kill it before anything really had a chance to get started. I really didn’t want to be anyone’s rebound. I wouldn’t be her rebound. Something about her was different, again, she saw through all the bullshit, those steel blue eyes of hers cutting right through it. The thing that got me was that she was no shrinking violet around the ugly stuff. She saw it, processed it and either went with it or she didn’t, so far she’d gone with it and either that made her crazy or showed an intestinal fortitude that most guys lacked.

  I admired her, not to put too fine a point on it, and I wanted to know more about her. A quick fuck in my shower wasn’t going to net me that, if anything it would snag me just the opposite with a girl like her. So as much as I would have liked to have taken her silent invitation, I went into my room instead and changed into some comfortable flannel pajama pants. I sat on the end of the bed and mulled things over a little bit too long, I hadn’t heard the shower shut off and suddenly she was there, just materialized in front of me wrapped from armpit to knees in one of my oversized midnight blue bath sheets. I looked up and met those steely eyes of hers and her somber expression dead on.

  “Why didn’t you join me?” she asked softly.

  “I wanted to.” I told her, and let her read the truth in my eyes, “But it wouldn’t have gotten either one of us anyplace good.” I stood up which forced her to take a step back. I tipped her chin with my finger and smoothed the pad of my thumb over the silky skin of her jaw. Her chest stilled and I was acutely aware that we were only inches from my bed, the towel easily displaced with a flick of my wrist.

  Oh how I wanted to take away that damned towel. I could tell she wanted me to, by the look in her eyes, the stillness of her breath… I bent, closing the gap between us and kissed her softly. I closed my eyes and breathed her in, she smelled so damned good, warm and clean and it took everything I had in me to keep the contact we had to a chaste kiss. Her lips parted underneath mine and I damn near came undone. I pulled back reluctantly when what I really wanted to do was kiss her with a savage intensity, turn her and fling her onto the mattress, pressing her back into the covers with my body over hers but I resisted and it cost me to do it.

  I left her standing stunned and wanting in the middle of my bedroom, as I strode out into the kitchen, fisting my hands in my hair. I stood there and shook for a minute and tried to put the lid back on my lust which was screaming through every single one of my veins and arteries, burning me up from the inside out. I opened up the fridge and grabbed the first beer I laid eyes on, twisting off the cap and taking a long pull.

  “I think I understand why you stopped, and while I’m glad that you did, in my head, my hormones think I may need another shower. A cold one this time.” She said from the archway leading back to the bathroom and bedrooms.

  “Want a beer?” I asked holding mine out to her. She pushed off the wall, her steel blue eyes never leaving mine and plucked the beer from my hand, wrapping her lips around where mine had just been and the way she did it… I shuddered. Why was that the hottest fucking thing I had ever seen in my life? She swallowed slowly, deliberately and I couldn’t tell if my blood was running hot or cold anymore. What I did know was my cock was stiff to the point of pain. She knew it too. Her lips quirking up on one side she said,

  “Go sit down. I’ll make dinner.” I nodded slowly and wondered when the hell I’d been upstaged. I pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. I could watch her prance around my kitchen in what passed for her PJ’s every night of the week and twice on Sunday. She went to the fridge and brought out another beer and held it up with a questioning look. I smiled.

  “Stop being such a tease and bring me my damn beer!” I joked and she laughed. She twisted off the top and held it out to me and some of the sexual tension eased off a little bit. I took the bottle from her hand careful not to brush fingers and found myself wondering if she were as wet as I was hard. She made a great show of bending over and rifling through the refrigerator giving me an exceptional view of those long sinful dancer’s legs of hers.

  I drank some of my beer and decided two could play at this game. She started washing some vegetables at the sink and I crept up behind her, right behind her. She was smiling this secret little victorious smile and I couldn’t resist fucking with her. I pulled her back by her hips roughly against my body and she gave out a surprised little yip that turned into this sultry moan. I slid a hand down the front of her body and let it dip below the waistband of her boxer shorts.

  Oh God yeah. She kept her pussy smooth, shaved, just the way I liked it! The little game we were playing momentarily tipped in her favor until I could get a grip. Her breath caught and she closed her eyes, shuddering against me. I dipped a finger into her folds and teased at her clit for a moment before plunging my index finger up inside her.

  God she was wet. Her silky heat inviting and tight, oh I’d have her writhing beneath me all right. Someday, some night… all night. For now, I wanted to indulge myself a little. I pulled my hand from her shorts and backed up abruptly. She stumbled, catching herself at the edge of the sink and turned around, her eyes dilated with arousal. She watched, aching, wanting as I brought my fingers to my lips and sucked her essence off of them. She tasted like fresh rain and springtime. I smiled slowly, and I know it was a little cruel but she had asked for it.

  “I like my dessert first.” I said in my low sexy growl and relished that it had the desired effect. Her jaw dropped open and I winked at her. She stood dumbfounded, her pink lips slightly pouty when I picked up my beer and took myself beyond the dining room into the living room. I needed space. I needed distance and I needed it now or I was going to fuck her on my kitchen counter.

  That thought had me nearly doing an about face. I flopped onto the couch in a way I hoped was nonchalant and picked up the remote. I flipped on the TV and surfed the channels without really paying attention to what was on. I could see her staring at me out of the corner of my eye but I couldn’t tell you what expression she wore. Slowly she turned back to the sink and with shaking hands continued her task. I smiled and when I was sure she couldn’t or wouldn’t see looked over. She looked shell shocked and in all the right ways. Her damp hair laying in tangled ropes over her shoulders and back, a slight smile played on her lips and I smiled. For a second I’d been afraid I’d pushed too much.

  She handed me a plate an hour later and curled herself up on the couch next to me. The news was coming on and we watched. The food was out of this world. More of that bread she’d made the last time and some kind of casserole that was mostly rice and chicken with vegetables in a white garlic sauce.

  “Damn girl you can cook.” I said and she smiled, glowing from the praise. We ate and set the dishes aside on the coff
ee table for the time being. I turned and pulled her against me so we were both lounging on the couch lengthwise. She sucked in a sharp breath and let it out slowly, melting against me and I loved it. Pretty soon her soft even breathing let me know she was asleep.

  “Everett?” I asked softly. No response. I sighed. I wasn’t really surprised, she’d had a long and emotional day. Sleep probably really was the best thing for her. I watched some more TV and was loathe to wake her, but I did it anyway. I nudged her gently until she started and sucked in a great breath. She yawned and stretched.

  “What time is it?” she asked, voice husky with sleep.

  “A little after eight, time for you to get to bed Princess.” She pouted and I knew what would put a smile on both hers and my face.

  “Come on let me up.” I said and she slowly moved to comply. I got up with her and asked her where her phone was.

  “Plugged in, in your bedroom why?” she asked.

  “Isn’t it your alarm clock?” I asked in return.

  “Oh, yeah…” I smiled and walked her into my room, propelling her gently in front of me by the shoulders. I lifted the blankets and she got under and I’m pretty sure she expected me to tuck her in and leave her. Not happening. I got in with her and pulled her against me and let out a contented sigh.

  “This is nice.” She said sleepily against my chest, her head resting on my shoulder. I had her tucked tightly up against me, my other hand behind my head; the fingertips of the arm around her idly tracing patterns on her bare shoulder.

  “Yeah it is.” I agreed.

  “G’night Dray.” She murmured and I smiled.

  “Sleep tight Everett.” I murmured back, and she did. Me, though, not so much. I lay awake staring at the ceiling for far too long, a dull deep ache settling into my balls. She had that kind of effect on me. I smiled a little ruefully. I guess she won our little game by default. I closed my eyes but sleep was still a long time coming.

  Chapter 9

  Everett…

  Waking up in the middle of the night pressed against Dray was a delicious treat. Cuddling up close and having him actually put his arms around me in his sleep rather than shoving me away like Jerry would was a-freaking-mazing. The alarm shrieking at us and dispelling our peaceful cuddle calm was frustrating to say the least. I groaned and it was echoed by one of Dray’s.

  “This getting up before the ass crack of dawn is total bullshit.” He said. I instantly felt bad.

  “I know, I’m sorry.” My voice was mournful. He rolled, pinning me roughly beneath him. I gasped and his burning dark gaze trapped my own like a butterfly in a killing jar¸ intense and leaving me powerless beneath it.

  “You’re worth it Everett.” He said, his warm breath skating over my lips, a promise of things to come. I expected him to kiss me. I wanted him to kiss me but his weight lifted from me and I blinked at his retreating back as he went out the bedroom door and shut himself in the bathroom. The shower started a moment later.

  Holy crap. What was that?

  I got up and dressed quickly and quietly and went out to make sure my bag was packed with my laptop and the texts I would need for class that day. I was vaguely aware of the shower shutting off and of the bathroom door opening but I just naturally assumed he would go in the bedroom and dress not that he would come up behind me and pull me back against his body or that his teeth would find purchase in the side of my throat as he bit me gently, his tongue laving at the pulse point in the side of my neck. I gasped my muscles turning into liquid at his attentions. Icy water dripped from the ends of his slick black hair and trickled along my collarbone.

  “Jesus!” I cried, as much for the contrasting sensation of his hot mouth and the cold water than for the shock of the cold itself.

  “See what you do to me?” he asked, voice low and intense. “I don’t like cold showers Em.” He spoke against that place where my neck met my shoulder and I swallowed convulsively.

  “I can’t imagine anyone does.” I said, voice light and breathy with a combination of lust and anticipation.

  “Pick you up from work and we’re gonna have to figure some things out.” He said.

  “It’s Wednesday. I have class.” I reminded him.

  “Fuck!” he swore low and vehement. I swallowed convulsively. I wasn’t afraid, just extremely turned on. I knew I was wet I could feel it. Being near Dray was turning into a near constant state of arousal.

  “Okay. I’ll pick you up and take you to your school. I need to put in some extra hours at the garage to make up for Monday and Tuesday. What time your classes through?” he asked stepping back and away. I sucked in a deep breath and tried to get my body to simmer down.

  “Six.” I answered carefully but my voice shook anyways. I didn’t dare turn around and look at him until he was dressed. I could hear the smile in his voice when he called back from the bedroom.

  “Pick you up then and I’m taking you to dinner, we’ll talk then.” He came back out of the bedroom pulling a black Henley over his head. His legs encased in fresh black denim that clung to the muscles in his thighs and highlighted his gorgeous and perfect ass. I tried very, very hard not to picture the feel of my palms against that ass, nails digging… He laughed and I startled.

  “Good to know it’s not just me.” He said and shook his head.

  I went in the bathroom and brushed my hair, when I came out Dray had half of his damp hair up with a tie. Too short for a pony tail but it looked really good with half of it up just the same. Who was I kidding? He looked really damn good just… period.

  “What were you thinking about?”

  “Please don’t make me say it.” I said the heat of humiliation warming my cheeks.

  “Oh Em, if it gets you to blush like that I just have to know. Spill it.” he crossed his arms and watching the muscles in his forearms flex with the motion sent heat to places much lower than my face. I decided for honesty because once again, it had never served me wrong.

  “I was picturing my hands gripping your ass.” I said and swallowed hard. He grinned.

  “Oh yeah. Definitely not just me but don’t say anymore. Come on I’ll take you to work.” He held out his hand. I shouldered the backpack and took his hand and followed him out. His skin was still cool from his cold shower but warmed quickly where it met my own. He opened the door for me and I slid into the cold car. He shut it behind me and rounded the front end, sliding in beside me. He turned on the car and I groaned and hung my head as cold air blew from the vents.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I want to be back in bed, with you.” I sighed.

  “Amen.” He said and pulled the seatbelt across my body and fastened it before doing his own. I looked at him. He smiled and drove me to work. I slogged through making other people coffee like a zombie even after having two cups of my own. Brandy, my fellow barista crossed her arms and cocked her head.

  “That is the second order for one of our regulars you’ve gotten wrong this morning.” She complained, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. I sighed. I knew she wasn’t being altruistic, the only thing Brandy worried about was herself and by default the tip jar and her size of the cut that came from it. All morning long she complained about the hot biker from the day before and wondered aloud what I had that she didn’t? Uh, let me think about that… how about class. I ground my teeth.

  “I just have a lot on my mind.” I muttered and set about cleaning while we had a short lull in business.

  “Well knock it off! You keep it up our tips are going to start to seriously suck and I’m not about to suffer for whatever you’ve got going on inside your head.” She savagely wiped down the counter by her machine and I kept my cool.

  I didn’t want to know what her deal was. I didn’t care. I just wanted to earn my paycheck from this place and go home. I was pretty sure Brandy was shorting me on my fair share of the tips and had been for a while. Every time she counted the tip jar it was a miserable day, but every time I managed to beat
her to it or another girl was here in her place we always seemed to make out like bandits.

  I sighed inwardly and decided that if she wanted to be a bitch then I would go the passive aggressive route and just make sure I was the one to count the tips today. I was all out of diplomacy, Irish or otherwise, so I simply kept my mouth shut. It was safer than letting my temper get the best of me. I needed to keep this job and for some undefinable reason Brandy was our boss’ favorite.

  I kept at it and successfully managed to make no more mistakes and count the tips at the end of the day. I handed Brandy her cut and she frowned but took it. I turned back to mine, organized it, folded it in half and put it in my back pocket. She was getting greedy and this count out showed it. We had only been moderately busy and my tips averaged out almost fifty dollars higher than any of the days earlier in the week. I pursed my lips and dropped the bag with my till money in it into the safe under the counter through the heavy old-fashioned mail slot door.

  “See you tomorrow.” I said and shouldered my bag.

  “Yeah, whatever.” She sulked, counting her tip money and I felt a tiny surge of anger. It felt like entirely too many people were cheating me lately. First Jerry, now Brandy… I went out the door and strode across the parking lot. Dray got out of his Trans-Am and leaned on his door.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked when I was just inside ear shot.

  “Is it that obvious?” I asked.

  “Yep.” He said succinctly. I sighed. Damn. It.

  “Hey, no, what’s this?” he asked. He backed off his door and shut it and pulled me in against his chest.

  “I’m just so tired.” I sobbed and it was true. I was tired of being screwed over, I was tired of working my ass off only to be broke, I was tired of stressing and wondering and worrying about what the hell I was doing with Dray so soon after Jerry’s betrayal and I just wanted a break from my life. I clung to Dray’s leather clad torso and he held me tight. I breathed in leather and machinery and under that the crisp scent of Dray’s cologne and wiped at my eyes. I tried to get it together and gave a shuddering sigh.