Damaged and the Dragon

by Bijou Hunter

  Her blonde ponytail swung wildly as she hurried towards me. My gaze flickered to Vaughn on the porch. The Reapers’ enforcer looked odd with his cold blue eyes struggling for menace against the backdrop of a gaudy bowling shirt. Raven disappeared inside then returned wearing an equally awful shirt.

  My focus returned to Bailey who watched me nervously. She always looked at me as if I was withholding what she desperately needed. Maybe I was, yet it never felt that way to me.

  As a kid, I overheard a lunch aide say I ate like a guy out of prison, shoving the food into my mouth as if afraid someone would steal it. After that day, I taught myself to eat slower, so I’d be like the other kids. Even when I was afraid someone really would steal my food, I took my time. I wanted to hide what I really was from the world.

  With Bailey, I struggled against the urge to stare at her beauty. I hungered to kiss her until she couldn’t breathe. I needed to hold her until she broke free. If I showed everything I wanted, I’d suffocate her, so I remained in control.

  Careful to hide my need, I kissed her gently. Bailey melted against me, fitting perfectly in my arms. Despite how right she felt with me, her clean scent made me crave another shower. Fuck if it was crazy, but I always felt dirty next to her.

  “If my brothers hassle you, I’ll kick their asses,” she said, climbing on the Harley. “Don’t worry about them.”

  “You don’t worry either.”

  She smiled, but her tension rolled off her in waves. Bailey remained on the bike after we parked and I climbed off. She was playing out all the various scenarios, each one making her frown darker.

  My thumb caressed the frown away then my lips met hers. While I didn’t know what bullshit her brothers might pull, I knew I wanted this woman and they were the gatekeepers.

  “Let’s do this thing,” Vaughn said, walking past us with Raven riding on his back.

  Taking Bailey’s hand, I followed them inside. The left side of the alley was reserved for the Johansson group. I saw a few families in the alley and a group of senior citizens. I also noticed wasted college guys near the arcade.

  The fuckers spotted Bailey and immediately walked our direction. I hoped they were old friends, but sensed they weren’t.

  “Well, if it isn’t Bailey Bangs-a-lot,” the blond guy said, causing Bailey to glare at him while his friend laughed.

  Rage rushed over me as he sneered at Bailey. This fucker had used her body like a toy then tossed her aside. Now, he mocked her. Maybe I was feeling territorial, but I hated him for existing in the same world as my girl.

  Before realizing I moved, I shoved him against the wall and pressed my forearm across his throat. The guy struggled against my grip, but I was stronger and angrier. I was also willing to kill him while I sensed he didn’t have the balls for a real fight.

  “Let him go,” the other guy said until I turned my glare to him.

  Once he shut up, I focused on the asshole struggling to breathe.

  “You will apologize then you will never speak to her again. If you see her coming your way, you walk away. Do you understand?”

  No doubt the shithead wanted to act tough, but he only nodded. I glared at him, ignoring everyone around us.

  “I bet you’ve treated women like shit for a long time and gotten away with it. This time you picked the wrong girl to mess with and I see you filling a shallow grave if you ever even look at her again. Understand, fucker?”

  His eyes bigger now, the guy nodded again.

  “That’s Bailey Fucking Johansson,” I hissed. “If I don’t kill you, her family will. In fact, I don’t know if you’ll last the night even if I let you go.”

  After leaning harder on his throat until the guy couldn’t breathe, I relented and released him. He and his friend bolted from the alley. I turned around to find Bailey standing with her brother.

  “You got that handled?” Cooper asked me.

  Still too angry to speak, I only nodded. Cooper looked me up and down then glanced at the fleeing losers. He gave me an approving nod then returned to Farah and the others.

  Bailey shuffled closer, looking unsure. I thought she was scared of me. Or worse, she might be embarrassed.

  “He wasn’t wrong really. I did sleep around,” she whispered.

  “So did I,” I said, brushing hair from her face as an excuse to touch her. “What’s your point?”

  Bailey smiled. “We’re different now.”

  When I shared her smile, the rage faded until it was merely a lump in my gut. I leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  “No one talks to you like that, Bailey. I don’t care what you did, you deserve better.”

  “Okay. If things got out of hand with him, I planned to pull my gun.”

  “And do what you did to that lamp.”

  Bailey laughed and the worry left her eyes. She was so beautiful when happy. I hated how the fucker knew her like I didn’t. Even if I still had trouble keeping my walls down around her, I needed Bailey to be mine.

  “After we’re done here,” I said softly, “let’s go back to my place and hang out.”

  When Bailey’s face lit up, I nearly threw her over my shoulder and ran to my apartment.

  “Yes.”

  For a moment, I couldn’t think. I only stared into her eyes while she returned my gaze. My feelings were too intense and I knew I’d ruin what I was trying to create with Bailey. Standing there, I wasn’t Dragon, just trailer trash Nick.

  Kissing her quickly, I stepped back and the hypnotic moment passed. Likely sensing the distance between us, Bailey shrunk before my eyes. Insecure now, she glanced around like she didn’t know what to do with herself.

  I’ve only bowled once,” I said, taking her hand and walking towards the others. “I’ll need you to instruct me on how far to stick out my ass when I roll the ball.”

  Bailey grinned, but her eyes remained wary. Tucker shared the same look when I arrived. Cooper was too busy feeling up Farah’s stomach as she sat on his lap while Vaughn and Raven were already bowling.

  “Hey, Nick,” Tawny said, breaking the ice. “Got roped into the crew crap, huh?”

  I grinned. “Are you kidding? I love bowling. Why wait until I’m sixty to get one of those shirts?”

  Vaughn glared back at a laughing Tawny then returned to rolling strikes.

  “Tawny, I have to pee,” Bailey announced. “Come hold my hair.”

  “Can I come?” Farah asked with Maddy looking interested in joining too.”

  “Very subtle,” Judd said, changing seats so he could mock Vaughn easier.

  Tawny kissed his cheek then followed Bailey. “Hey, Raven, are you coming?”

  “No, can’t stop playing. Our first born child’s name depends on the outcome of this game.”

  Watching Bailey disappear with the girls, I became very aware I’d been ditched with the Johansson brothers. I turned to get my bowling shoes and walked as slowly as possible. Didn’t matter though. I still returned to find the men watching me. They even had a new one to glare at me.

  “Hey, Dylan,” I said, holding my orange ball. “You got rid of the Mohawk.”

  Lark and Raven’s stepbrother ran his hand over his bald head and sighed. “Yeah, I’d been thinking about going the business man route for a while. Kept going back and forth about cutting it. A few weeks ago, I got drunk at Lark’s place. The sisters were nice enough to shave my head while I was passed out.”

  Nearby, Raven laughed so hard she had trouble distracting Vaughn who was still trying to win the game. Dylan glared at her then shrugged.

  “Gonna let it grow out and play the average Joe shit.”

  “Good luck with that,” I said, glancing at the bathroom and hoping Bailey would appear.

  When she didn’t, I walked to an open lane and rolled the ball. It took out a single pin which was one more than I expected. A lane away Raven struggled to win against Vaughn. She bent over one direction. When her ass didn’t do it, she bent forward and adjusted her tits. A dis
tracted Vaughn missed his strike with a single pin remaining.

  Before I could hear him complain and her celebrate, Cooper and Tucker appeared next to me.

  “I liked the way you handled that fucker,” Tucker said, arms crossed tightly. “You always know how to deal with these losers while looking like a Boy Scout. A good skill to have.”

  Ignoring them, I rolled the second ball and managed to take out three pins. A new record for me.

  “What’s with the silent shit?” Tucker asked.

  Sighing, I looked at them and frowned. “I want to be with Bailey. We just started dating, but here I am jumping through hoops for you two. You do this shit with every guy?”

  “Most are losers,” Cooper said. “Most never do the second date thing. They bang then hang. If they’re lucky, she never mentions it to us and we don’t kick anyone’s ass. You’re the first boyfriend type she’s had.”

  “Our family needs good people,” added Tucker.

  Cooper shifted his stance and shook his head at his brother. “He doesn’t want that life. Nick wants to be a teacher.”

  “Why?”

  “Who cares?” Cooper said. “It’s what he wants. Sounds like a nice safe life for our little sister, don’t you think?”

  Tucker’s expression froze and his dopey brain took awhile to put things together. By the time he figured it out, I’d rolled a gutter ball, Bailey returned, and Vaughn declared his wife a cheater.

  “It’s only fair!” Raven cried as Vaughn threw her over his shoulder and spun her around. “You’re a better bowler and I want to win. Cheating was the only card I could play.”

  “Making me think some fucker was looking at your ass was low, Raven.”

  “So is naming our first born son Maverick. You’re just looking for trouble with a name like that.”

  Vaughn lowered her to her feet then grinned. “My boys will be nothing but trouble. They’ll own this town and chase pretty girls like Scarlet and Lily.”

  “Hey, keep your pervy kid away from my daughter!” Tucker hollered, looking pissed.

  Cooper grabbed his brother and they wrestled onto the ground. By the end of pounding each other, they were both laughing. Watching them, I imagined having such an easy way with another guy. All my life men intimidated me. Even when they were weak like Danny Boy, I didn’t trust them and never lowered my guard.

  Bailey glanced at where my ball returned to me then she smiled awkwardly.

  “Having fun?”

  “Not really,” I said, leaning down to kiss her neck. “When I agreed to bowl, I thought I would see you bending over more. You can’t imagine my disappointment.”

  Bailey grinned. “I will make it up to you.”

  Her hair looked shiny in the dull light of the alley. My fingers tingled and I lifted my hand without thinking. Bailey’s gaze softened as I ran my fingers through the soft strands.

  “I’m sorry my brothers are hassling you.”

  “They’re fine,” I murmured while my fingers moved to her warm skin. “I’ve never been on display like this and it makes me edgy. I don’t want to lose you.”

  Bailey’s eyes widened just a hint in response to my words. Or maybe she heard the need behind them. I wanted her so badly everything else disappeared in comparison.

  “You guys want to get a pizza?” Tucker asked loudly.

  Stepping back, I hated looking away from Bailey, but we were surrounded. Farah walked over and smiled.

  “You can have them put up the bumpers, if you want?”

  Cooper joined us quickly. “What are we talking about?”

  “Bumpers,” Bailey said, walking over to Vaughn

  I looked at Farah’s bump. “How is Lark?”

  “Not great. She’s on bed rest and going bananas stuck at home.”

  “Hey, eyes up here,” Cooper growled when I looked at Farah’s bump for too long.

  Farah looked embarrassed, but I just grinned. “That’s a nice bump she’s got there.”

  “Asshole,” Cooper said in a low threatening voice.

  I couldn’t help laughing. “Dating your sister. Not interested in your wife. Are any of these things sinking in?”

  Farah smiled while Cooper didn’t know what to do with his anger.

  “The baby is kicking,” Farah said and Cooper’s gaze focused on her bump. “Lily is quite a badass. Just like her daddy.”

  With those few words, Cooper lost his anger and knelt down to kiss the bump.

  “My girl is going to beat the shit out of everyone.”

  Grinning, Farah rolled her eyes. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Oh, she’ll be a powerful chick.”

  Watching Cooper talk to his unborn daughter, I understood the look he wore the night he visited me in the hospital. Back then, I thought he was afraid I’d press charges. Fear wasn’t something I thought I’d see on Cooper Johansson. I never thought I’d hear him apologize either. That night, both happened.

  Now I realized he didn’t fear the law. He feared losing Farah. The guy might be an asshole, but he really loved her.

  Bailey returned wearing a smile. “I had him put up the bumpers for us.”

  “Thanks,” I said, leaning down to kiss her head. “I’m looking forward to watching you bowl.”

  Grabbing my bowling ball, Bailey walked to the lane then bent over and wiggled her butt. Turning around to wink at me, she looked genuinely happy to find me smiling. Her earlier anxiety gone, she rolled a gutter ball saved by the bumper. Once the ball took out two pins, Bailey jumped up and down. I knew she was showing off those new tits, but I only saw her smile. It lit up the whole place.

  For the rest of the evening, I ate pizza, rolled would be gutter balls, laughed at Vaughn’s jokes, and waited to be alone with Bailey.

  My body craved her even before she wrapped her arms around me as we rode to my place. In the warm evening, our skin grew damp with sweat. Though I desperately wanted a shower, I wanted Bailey more.

  Riding the elevator to my third floor apartment, I couldn’t wait any longer. My lips met Bailey’s and she gasped at the suddenness of our embrace. Hesitating only a moment, she wrapped her arms around my neck. Her tongue stroked mine and I imagined our bodies moving together too.

  My mind swam with a hunger I’d never known before. The intoxicating need blinded me to everything else. My hands reached under Bailey’s ass and I lifted her up against me. Those new tits of hers pressed against my chest as her arms wrapped tighter around me. Bailey wanted me despite my crappy past. Promising myself that she accepted me, I unlocked the door as my lips remained on hers.

  Danny Boy called out to me, ready to share a rumor about an amazing party. When he saw me with a girl connected at the waist, he made one of his dumb murmurs and backed off.

  Never removing my lips from Bailey’s, I managed to lock my bedroom door. She moaned into my mouth as I leaned her back on the bed. Tasting her jaw and throat, I couldn’t get enough of her warm flesh. Bailey’s hands slide through my hair.

  “Nick,” she murmured as I sucked at her throat.

  When her hands reached under my shirt, I felt as if I’d been shocked. I instantly jumped back and away from her.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, flushed and reaching for me.

  Backing away from her, I climbed off the bed. The sight of her so beautiful before me intensified the sense of filth on my skin. Dragon deserved someone as brilliant as Bailey, but I wasn’t him. I was Nick from the trailer, locked in the hot closet while the burns on my back festered.

  “It’s too fast,” I lied. “I don’t want what we have to be about sex.”

  “It’s not,” she said, crawling towards me. “I want all of you. It’s never been about sex. I want you, Nick.”

  The next words killed me, but I needed to shower and remove the filth I felt on my skin. Crazy or not, I felt dirty and couldn’t touch Bailey. I’d corrupt her, even if only in my mind.

  “I’ll take you home now.”

  Ba
iley’s face shifted into an expression I’d never seen before. Shocked and hurt, she struggled not to cry.

  “It’s not you,” I whispered.

  “Guys say that sometimes. They’re usually lying.”

  Leaning against the small dresser, I studied her beautiful face. I wanted to return to the bed and know every part of her. I hungered to kiss the Tinker Bell tattoo on the small of her back. Nearly a year ago, I’d seen it when she bent down to pick up her water bottle. Since then, I’d imagined exploring the tattoo.

  Yet I couldn’t.

  “When I started fighting,” I said while she struggled against her tears, “sex was so easy to get. Girls who never noticed me suddenly threw themselves at me. Fucking was nothing after awhile. You are not nothing. You mean things to me that I can’t express. I don’t even know how I feel about you. It’s more than anything I understand. I’m all confused inside and I need us to go slower. It makes no sense, but it’s what I need.”

  Bailey glanced around then back at me. “I think I understand.”

  Bailey didn’t really understand, yet I was relieved she was willing to lie. The tears never spilled down her cheeks and she didn’t try to talk me out of taking her home. After I kissed her goodnight, she smiled like we’d had a great date.

  Despite her reassurances, I knew I needed to get my issues under control or I’d lose her. This was an easy idea, but more difficult to achieve. Even after my skin burned from scrubbing so hard in the shower, I felt dirty. No way could I imagine corrupting Bailey with my filth.

  Chapter Eleven ~ Bailey

  Waking up the next day on the couch in my apartment, I felt like shit. I didn’t know if I was sick or simply depressed. Either way, I dragged my ass into the shower and tried to wash away the bad feelings.

  Unable to find the energy to walk to the house for my mom’s country breakfast, I ate a sundae flavored Pop Tart. Dozing on the couch, I wished I had woken up in Nick’s bed.

  Maddy showed up around eleven to drop off Scarlet and take me dress shopping. She used her mom skills to get me off the couch.

  “Hey, pumpkin, I’ll get you a strawberry shake if you get up now,” she whispered, stroking my head. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, baby? A big strawberry shake from Burger King. Does that sound good?”