They both looked at me. Jay nodded respectfully and stepped back but Ollie glared at me. “Who the fuck is he?”
He blinked at me when I hissed at him, “He’s my friend, now leave it. You’re my brother not my fucking guardian. You do not get to pick my friends any more Ollie, I’m a grown bloody woman!” All heads turned my way, each of my brother’s wide eyes finally seeing their sister speak up. “I love you Ollie, you’re my brother but god damn it, I’m sick of all this shit.”
“Bea,” Alex grabbed my hand, his face full of concern but my anger was intense and hungry.
“No Alex, I’m sorry but I’ve been the little sister for way too long. I can look after myself!”
“Really?” Ollie scoffed as his face reddened with my tenacity. “And could you look after yourself when the prick you married decided to fucking stab you and rape you? Could you look after yourself then, Bea? Eh? COULD YOU?”
I froze. Every one of my brothers gasped and stared at Ollie. “What the hell Ollie?” Jack hissed.
Ollie cringed then stepped towards me but I shook my head. “No. No I couldn’t,” I choked out.
“Bea?” I winced at Jay’s soft tone but ignored him.
“I’m sorry,” Ollie exclaimed quietly as he rubbed his face with his hands. “I’m just tired, Bea. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
I nodded. “I’m going to see Noah.”
“You can’t,” Dylan said, “We have to wait for the doctors.”
“Tough!”
My heart exploded in my chest when I walked into the dull room. Noah’s face was unrecognisable, the bruising and grazes taking his once handsome looks and morphing them into something from my nightmares. One of his arms was in a cast and the sheet laid across him was supported off his body with some framework around his abdomen. Two tubes were feeding him oxygen and food and the wires fixed to his sore chest made the monitors beep in rhythm.
“Oh dear God.”
I turned to look who caught me. Jay smiled softly. “I’m here.”
I nodded clumsily, unable to make my vocal chords work as Jay guided me across the room and pulled over a chair for me to sit beside my brother’s broken body. Unable to take Noah’s hand because of the bandages around his fingers, I gently laid my hand on his. “Noah?”
He didn’t move, he didn’t even flinch.
“Noah? Please.”
“Shush, Bea,” Jay whispered softly.
“Tell me he’ll be okay, Jay.” I didn’t look away from my brother when I spoke to Jay. I couldn’t take my eyes of the mess of him. “Who would do this? Who would hurt such a gentle man?”
“I don’t know.”
I hadn’t even noticed Jay had pulled up a chair beside me but when my heartache became too much and I finally started to sob, he lifted me tenderly and placed me on his knee where I remained for the next three hours, wrapped in his arms and his comfort.
Chapter 10
Jay
“I’ll see what I can find out,” Mason said. “How’s Beatrice doing?”
“Not good, she hasn’t left the hospital in the last two days. Noah doesn’t look like he’s coming round any time soon either.”
He nodded. “I’ll get Greg to scowl some CCTV near where the attack happened, see if we can get something from that.”
“Cheers, mate.”
“It’s not a problem, Jay. You know that.”
I smiled at Ava when she walked in with a tray of coffee and cake. “And how are you bearing up?” She asked as she passed me my drink.
“Ahh I’m okay, just want the bastards found. I don’t know Noah but he’s important to Bea so that makes him my responsibility.”
Ava smiled softly. “You really like her.”
I nodded but looked away with a deep sigh. “I can’t go anywhere with it though so at the moment I’m settling for a friendship.”
“Why?” Mason asked, his head cocked with puzzlement.
Choosing my words carefully, I tapped the edge of my cup distractedly, my mind wandering where it shouldn’t. “Bea has some issues with a previous relationship. I… have certain… preferences in the bedroom that she would never handle.”
“Like?” Ava pressed.
I grimaced at her. “Well you know… I kind of like it a bit… rough.”
Ava nodded, regarding me as she waited for me to clarify further, when I didn’t she sighed. “Jay, tell me to shut the hell up if you want but have you actually asked Beatrice what she likes?”
“No.”
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “Then how do you know what she likes?”
“Well I don’t,” I explained, “But her ex… raped her, so…”
“So you just presume that’s put her off sex altogether.”
“Well, she’s not exactly going to let me spank the fuck out of her is she?”
“Why?”
“Well it’s pretty obvious Ava.”
“Is it,” she argued. “And who’s to say you won’t be happy with vanilla?”
“It’s just not who I am.”
“But Bea is who you like?”
“For god’s sake, do you love to argue, Ava?”
Mason snorted, nodding over his wife’s shoulder. He straightened his face when she turned to look at him then grinned widely. “Didn’t say a word, baby.”
“Mmm,” she countered before turning back to me. “Have you even taken her on a date?”
“A date?”
She rolled her eyes. “A relationship isn’t just about sex, Jay.”
“Isn’t it?” Mason and I piped up together.
“Oh good God,” Ava sighed, “I’m surrounded by idiots.”
I laughed and placed my cup on the table. “I’m just going over to the hospital now. I’ll let her know you’re looking into it, hopefully that will rest her mind a little.”
Ava smiled. “Well it sounds to me like the girl needs a meal and a bath, maybe….”
“Maybe?”
“I dunno, can you cook?”
“Yes.” I stared at her in confusion.
“Idiots!” she sighed. “Then cook for her.”
“Oh.” I pursed my lips and mused over her suggestion. “Do you think she’ll let me?”
Mason tried to hide his laughter. “Jay, just how many relationships have you had?”
“I haven’t ever had a relationship.”
“What the hell?” both Mason and Ava exclaimed together. “Not one?”
I shook my head. “Nah, don’t do them. Sex is it for me.”
“Then I agree,” Ava exhaled, “You need to stay away for her.”
“Why?”
“Oh just go and see the poor lass,” Mason growled, his frustration with my answers obvious.
“I was but you wanted to give me some lame ideas on how to bag a woman.” I winked at Ava when she shook her head and chuckled.
“Bye Jay,” Mason grumbled when he grabbed his wife, “I did just fine ‘bagging a woman’ so take my help or don’t.”
I smiled as I walked out, I couldn’t help but agree with him.
***
I sighed when I walked into the room. Bea was asleep, the side of her face squashed on the bed beside Noah’s hand. Her brother Jack smiled at me. “You’re okay, Ollie’s not here. Come in.”
I smiled appreciatively. “Any change?”
He shook his head and sighed. “No, although they’re certain they’ve stopped the bleeding so that’s something.”
“It is,” I agreed as I stared at Bea. She was so pretty, even with her hair plastered to her sweaty forehead and her clothes wrinkled from two days wear. Her long blonde lashes rested against her cheek as she breathed deeply. “How long has she been asleep?”
“A few hours, she needed it.”
“I take it she’s close to Noah.”
Jack smiled and nodded. “Yeah, they’ve always been close. When our parents died they found solace in each other and they’ve been inseparable ever since.”
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I nodded, softly brushing the hair from Bea’s face when it tickled her nose. “Have the police been in touch?”
“Nope. They don’t give a shit but…”
“But?”
“Well, they think it’s a… homophobic attack.”
I shook my head and hissed between my teeth. “Bastards.”
He nodded but regarded me closely. “Can I be blunt?”
“Sure, I’d prefer it.”
He clicked his tongue, forming the words in his head before he spoke them. I perched on the edge of the bed in front of him as I waited respectfully. “Bea’s…” he tapped his leg nervously. “Bea’s had a bit of a rough ride.”
“And this is your polite warning,” I finished for him.
He grimaced but nodded. “Yeah, something like that.”
I smiled widely. “I’m glad Bea has such a close family and believe me, I understand all your concerns. But we’re just friends, Bea’s not ready for a relationship and I like her too much to take it beyond that anyway.”
He narrowed his eyes and scrutinised me for a moment before he smiled and nodded, accepting my declaration. “Good. I know we seem controlling but after… the bastard she married you can understand our close guard.”
“Yep,” I nodded firmly, and I could. If a wanker ever hurt Erin or Helena, I would be right there at the front of the queue to rip some fucker a good one if they even came close. “Although I do think she needs a good meal and a bath.”
“Yes!” he chuckled, “The girl stinks like a mouldy cabbage.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Bea rasped as she woke and rolled her neck around her shoulders. “I’m not at that stage yet.” She smiled up at me when I turned to her. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I replied as I bent and lifted her off the chair.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking you home for a decent meal and a shower.”
I frowned when she let her head drop to my shoulder and her arms slid around my neck. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
She nodded. “See you later Jack, call me if there’s any change.”
“I will,” he promised, “Go get clean you stinky cow.”
“Cheers,” she mumbled as she drifted back off to sleep in my arms.
I couldn’t control the thud in my chest when she relaxed against me. She felt so right, so perfect against me. I couldn’t help but imagine just how she would feel beneath me, above me or how her thighs would feel around my head. I promised myself not to go there but my dick had other ideas.
Pushing it aside, I growled under my breath and took Beatrice Vine into my lair.
Chapter 11
Bea
We pulled up to a three story house set on top of a garage. Jay didn’t drive into the garage but just parked on the driveway. “I thought you were taking me home?”
He frowned at me as he pulled on the handbrake and the car’s parking lights lit up the surrounding area. “I have, my home. I can’t really cook for you at your house. The ingredients I need are here.”
“But…” I mumbled as I climbed out of the car after him. “I need a shower.”
He stared at me for a moment then sighed and shook his head as if exasperated with me and walked towards the house. “Yes, I have a shower Beatrice.”
I didn’t reply as I followed him. The ground floor had a garage to one side and a bricked area to the other with a door to one side but instead of entering through that, we ascended some brick steps at the side of the property up to the second level then through a door which led straight into a large kitchen/diner.
Taking my hand firmly, Jay mumbled, “Kitchen.” He then pulled me through one of the adjoining doors into a hallway. He flicked open another door, “Lounge,” before leading me along, past the “Office,” and up some stairs at the rear of the house. “My room,” he stated as he pointed to one door. “And your room.” Following him in, the room opened up into a huge long space that appeared to cover the whole length of the house. A large double bed sat exactly in the centre of the room, the dressings cream to match the walls but where the décor lacked colour, the furnishing were bright and bold, the cushions lime green, the lamp a bright orange with the matching light. The walls were adorned with simple frames of pure colour and the ornaments were simple but dramatic.
Without giving me time to comment, Jay pulled me into the bathroom to one side. “Take your time,” he said as he dropped my hand. “I have the food to prep.” Then he left, closing the door behind him.
I stood silent as my eyes moved around the space, soaking in the clean white walls and fittings but once again, it was broken by bright colours.
Sighing and shrugging, I switched on the shower and stripped off. Leaving my smelly clothes on the chair in the corner I stepped under the hot spray of water and groaned appreciatively. My hair had started to plait itself and I grimaced when I lifted my hand to the shower head to alter the height and my armpits growled at me as if alive. I curled a lip at the growth. “Bloody hell, Bea, how long have you been out of it?”
Then, quite shockingly, I saw some soap products sat on a shelf with a razor and foam sat proudly to one side. “Jay Carter, I think I just fell in love with you!”
It was the best shower of my life and if I was honest I never wanted it to end but when my stomach growled and the smell of garlic, herbs and frying meat filtered through, I turned the shower off and stepped out. Grabbing a vivid blue towel I froze when I saw my clothes had gone, replaced by a large fluffy robe. Although I was glad of the clean garment, I cringed at the thought of Jay handling my two day old knickers. “Oh shit.”
However when I walked back into the kitchen, he turned to look at me and smiled. “I don’t have clothes that will fit you. You’re tiny and mine would bury you so I popped them on a wash cycle.”
I stared at him. “So,” my eyes dropped to the plated potato salad with a variety of vegetables and the steak cooking on a griddle, “not only do you cook, you also do the laundry.”
He smirked at me, “It would appear that I’m a rare domesticated guy.”
I grinned as I perched on a tall stool at the bar and took a raw carrot from one of the plates. “So tell me what you’re no good at?”
He pondered for a moment then turned the steak and looked back at me. “Football… in fact most sports.”
I barked out a laugh, “Really?”
He grimaced and groaned. “I sound like a girl.”
I chuckled when he slid the meat from the pan and placed a portion on each plate and carried them both to the table. Grabbing two glasses as I sat down, he poured my own with wine and filled his own with water. “Aren’t you joining me?” I asked as I took a grateful sip.
“No,” he smiled, shaking his head as he started to tuck into the food, “You might be called back to the hospital. I won’t be able to run you quickly if I’ve had a drink.”
I was sure my heart burst a little. “Oh,” I smiled softly, “Thank you.”
“No problem,” he smiled. “So tell me, when you’re not eating what I’m forcing you, what do you like to eat?”
“I’m easy,” I answered quickly. He smirked and I rolled my eyes. “What I meant was that I like most of everything… ooh apart from liver.”
“Liver is good for you, it’s a superfood, full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids which help your brain. I’ll cook it for you next time in a way you’ve never had it, I guarantee I’ll change your mind.”
“Wow,” I breathed.
He blushed faintly then smiled awkwardly, “Sorry, I’m a food geek.”
“No,” I beamed at him, “I like that.”
He gazed at me for a moment, both of us quiet and observing the other before Jay blinked and pointed his knife at my plate. “Eat.”
I nodded and cut into my beef, moaning approvingly when it melted in my mouth. “This is really good. You, sir,” I pursed my lips and nodded admiringly, “can cook.”
“Why thank you madam.�
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“So tell me, what’s your favourite food?”
He chuckled. “You’ll laugh.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Well,” he smiled, “there’s nothing better than a cheese and tomato sandwich.”
I did laugh. “Honestly?” He nodded and laughed. “Then you must let me cook for you some time, I’m sure I can manage your favourite.”
He watched me quietly as I ate and drank the wine, both of us sat in a comfortable silence before I downed my cutlery and groaned. “Good god, I’m stuffed. Thank you, that was lovely and much needed.”
“I enjoy cooking, it’s not a problem.”
“Can I ask you something?” He looked over at me cautiously but nodded. “How did you get your scar?”
He visibly relaxed and I wondered what he thought I was going to ask. “Car accident. I was one of those ‘textbook teenagers’ that rebelled. Showed off with a couple of girls in the back of a stolen car and we ended up over a cliff.”
“Oh God.”
“Taught me a lesson,” he shrugged. Then his eyes narrowed and he tipped his head, “Does it bother you?”
“No, not at all, I’m just being nosy. If I’m honest, it quite suits you. I can’t picture you without it.”
“And you?”
“Me?”
“Do you have any scars?” he probed as he sipped his water and watched me carefully.
I knew what he was asking. He’d heard what Ollie had said about Graham. I stiffened, pulling the robe tighter around me instinctively and nodded vaguely. “You know I do, Jay.”
His expression didn’t alter as he studied me closely. “Does it bother you?”
“I’m sorry?”
“There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means that the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with,” he recited and I stared at him. “Harry Crews, American novelist” he divulged, “I just wondered if his quote was the truth. For me it is, yet you, I wonder.”
“The skin heals quickly, the soul is a different matter,” I said quietly, diverting my eyes to my wine as I gulped down another glass and refilled it. “Beatrice Vine, British human resources administrator.”
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