by Christina OW
His arms tightened around her, his breathing harsh as his chest heaved. He was furious with her.
“I’m sorry.” She tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let her go.
“No!” he barked, making her jump. He rubbed her back. “I’m not angry at you! I’m just mad that your parents drove you into running off to another country and into the arms of a sociopath!”
Loraine let out a sign of relief. As long as he wasn’t mad with her she was cool with whomever he wanted to be angry at.
“But I’m here now, safe in your big strong arms.”
Reno sat her up and held her head steady with his fingers on her chin, his eyes peering into her own. “I have to ask, you can choose not to answer,- if you want.”
Loraine swallowed the dread, wishing she could say no without hearing the question but if she couldn’t confess her darkest secrets to the man she intended to make a family with, they were wasting each other’s time.
Reluctantly, she nodded. “The first time we were together, I know I was very rough and it could be the explanation but if not, were you a virgin?”
Coyly she asked, “Did you want me to be?”
His lips rose in a lopsided sexy grin. “Lori?”
She chuckled shaking her head. “No, I lost that to Jake.”
Both his eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “Gay Jake married to Gil who kept touching my abs after we went scuba diving?”
Loraine laughed out loud as she nodded. Reno had stood there with one raised eyebrow watching as Jake drooled all over him, his hands friskier than what any other straight guy would have allowed. But Reno found it all amusing and took it in stride like gay guys hit on him all the time.
“How the hell did that happen?”
“Well, he stuck his—”
He slapped his hand over her mouth, one brow lowering while the other remained up with a ‘don’t be ridiculous’ look. “Spare me the details and explain how you got a gay guy in bed.”
Loraine playfully licked his palm as he pulled his hand away before she spoke. “I asked him to.”
He shook his head. “Why?”
This part of the explanation she wasn’t very enthusiastic in telling. The sudden change in his face told that he’d noticed her sudden discomfort.
“Lori, I need to know why you went to a gay guy to deflower you.”
He wasn’t asking anymore, he was demanding, and that only made her even more anxious. She’d already told him about her attack, why was this little detail so hard to get out?
He took her hands in his. “Whatever it is Lori, I won’t judge you, and I know I shouldn’t pressure you, but I just need to know.”
Loraine took a deep breath and nodded. It’s just a few words, nothing to it. Then why can’t I speak?
Reno let out a long sigh, brushing his hand over his hair. “If it’s that bad maybe I shouldn’t know.”
Just get it out! “After what happened in Paris…” deep breath, “My parents wanted me to get checked out in hospital in case he…he…” that word was like a sour pill!
Loraine winced as Reno crushed her hand in his. He was trying to keep his face expressionless but the storm in his eyes and her breaking hand belied him. He was enraged and fighting hard not to show it.
“Of course he didn’t…but at the time I didn’t want to find out in case he did. They wanted to take me to a hospital in Paris but I refused. I just want out of the country and off the continent and they agreed as long as I went to hospital once I got home.”
Reno rolled his lips into his mouth like he was keeping himself from saying something. This was harder than she thought, and it never actually happened to her. Almost did, but she lucked out thanks to Jeb. Ten seconds more and she would have been another victim, another statistic in this crime filled world.
She scoffed silently, like she already wasn’t.
She took a breath and went on. “But when I got home I locked myself in my bedroom. They tried everything to get me to go but I didn’t want to know. Then Jake came to see me and he talked me into it, or so he thought. I convinced him to take me to his place and when we got to his room I stripped. You can imagine how that went.”
Reno’s Adam apple bobbed a few times as he listened, his livid eyes on her face. “Didn’t you already know he was gay?”
Loraine forced a laugh. “Yeah, but I didn’t care at the time. He was the only guy I trusted and I wasn’t going to lie on a cold slab and let some person go poking around so soon after…”
“So how exactly did he…accomplish that?”
This time her laugh was sincere. “You don’t want to know but he did get it up. It was scary having his weight on me and I remember crying biting my lips shut to keep from screaming for him to get off, for someone to help me. I was back in that dark room all over again. He freaked out a few times but I forced him to do it and when it was confirmed that I wasn’t…we cried relieved and sad tears together. Then I got dressed and he took me to his shrink.”
“Why his shrink?”
Loraine heard the catch in his voice, tears threatening to spill out of his eyes. Maybe a change of topic would help defuse the tension because soon I’ll be bawling my eyes out.
“His parents thought gayness was a phase after he came out. Our fathers had great aspirations for our futures especially as a couple. I figured it out right away that he was gay so I suggest we pretend to be dating to keep them off our backs and it worked for a while until some idiot outed him in front of the entire school.”
“Poor guy.”
“Jake did better than that other asshole.”
The edge of Reno’s lips lifted in not quite a smile but something close. “Let me guess, you turned into a bulldog and tore him up.”
Loraine smiled triumphantly. “Got a month’s suspension and I’m not ashamed of it. No one messes with my best friends and gets away with it.”
Reno nodded. “I figured you two were close, once I got over my jealous fit.”
Loraine laughed remembering how angry he’d been until the moment Jake touched his biceps saying he couldn’t help himself and then Gil threw his own jealous fit.
Reno pulled her to him and held her tight against his chest. “Thank you for telling me, Lori. I know it wasn’t easy…you kept avoiding the word rape.” She winced as if she’d been slapped. “Hey, it’s okay. Just because it almost happened to you doesn’t make it any less traumatizing than if it had. I know that would have been worse but just knowing it almost happened…”
His arms tightened around her before he spoke again, his voice a hoarse whisper. “That’s your nightmare isn’t it? Being raped…that’s why you fight so hard at night…”
Loraine burrowed deeper into his embrace wishing she could hide inside his hard chest. Yes, that was what tormented her, it actually happening and being powerless to stop it.
“God honey, I’m so sorry. But you’re safe now. That bastard will never lay a finger on you again…I could kill him for this!” he hissed.
“It doesn’t matter; I’m home here and safe with you.”
Reno was quiet for a moment before he whispered. “You mean it? You want to make your home here with me and Tyler?”
She sat up and took his face in her hands. “Where else would I go? I already found what I was looking for, remember?”
He sighed with a chuckle, pulling her down against him and kissing the top of her head. “Don’t ever change, my Crazi Lori.”
“Never.”
* * * *
Loraine had been hoping the night would end with some love making if not wild sex but Reno just held her and they stayed silent, both engrossed in their own thoughts until they finally fell asleep. They woke up to Tyler jumping up and down on their bed, which ended in a mock fight between him and Reno. She watched them for a while before she set off to make breakfast for her family, leaving Reno to help Tyler get ready.
The night had been wonderful she felt like the two of them had grown closer because of
the discussion though she felt guilty about not telling him the whole truth. But soon she will when the time was right.
“And when will that be, Lori?” she asked herself. When would be the right time to tell Reno she wasn’t as safe as he thought she was? And now that she was involved with he and Tyler…
Loraine felt her chest tighten with panic. If Pierre knew about Tyler, would he use him against her? How far would he go this time to get her?
“Mama!”
Loraine jumped, the spatula falling out of her hand. Damn, she was back to being jumpy! When would she stop giving that man power over her? How long would his shadow follow her? Disgusted with herself, she picked up the spatula from the floor and rinsed it in the sink.
“Mama!”
“In the kitchen!” she yelled back.
“You mean the galley,” Reno spoke from behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. “Something smells great.”
Loraine leaned into his embrace letting him rid her of her nightmare. “Same difference and that would be breakfast.”
Reno nibbled on her neck creating an army of goose bumps down her body to the tip of her toes. She fell back against him, glad he was holding her up because she’d suddenly lost her sea legs.
“No, it’s you.” Her pulse jumped when he suckled the flesh over it. “Damn woman you even taste good.”
She knew they should stop before Tyler walked in but he was making her feel so good. She pushed back against him and he pressed forward. “Baby on board.”
Reno groaned pulling away. “Just a few more hours.”
“To what?” she sounded so breathy like she’d run a marathon. A few seconds in his presence and she lost her breath. She was hooked, line and sinker on the man and it set butterflies in her belly.
He chuckled swatting her ass and walking away. “You’ll see. Tyler, get in here, breakfast is ready!” he yelled the last part and the sound of small feet followed as Tyler ran in.
“Pancakes!” he yelled jumping on the cushioned seat at the table.
“Yum, I’m starving.”
Loraine turned to the sound of Riana’s voice, her jaw on the floor. “What…when…” she couldn’t get the words past her surprise and began to scream and jump before hugging her best friend.
“I’m happy to see you too,” Riana said laughingly, hugging her back. “Never thought I’d see you domesticated. Reno must have some magical powers.”
Loraine pulled away and took a good look at her friend. She was rounder, her cheeks fuller and she looked happier than she’d ever seen her before. She placed her hands on Riana’s belly with awe.
“Pregnancy agrees with you.”
Riana rolled her eyes and a snort sounded from the door before Allan stepped in. “She’ll probably be the only one who survives it. Pregnant women are crazy!”
“Watch it!” Riana warned moving to stand next to her brother.
Loraine gave Allan a quick hug. “You brought it on yourself. Wasn’t Aurora warning enough?”
Allan smiled, his joy radiating off him in waves. There was no sign of the trauma he’d suffered a few months ago on him. It was like it never happened, same with Riana.
Why can’t I be like them?
“Yeah, but I love every second of it,” he said staring lovingly at his wife. “Wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
“Aww,” Riana cooed, stepping to her husband and giving him a loving kiss. “I love you, Allan Sinclair.”
“And I love you, Riana Sinclair.”
Loraine and Reno exchanged a look as the couple continued to kiss lightly, whispering to each other.
“Can I have pancakes now?”
The unexpected grumble from Tyler made them all laugh and Loraine’s heart leaped for joy. In this room was her family and she loved them all.
“Yes, honey, we can eat.”
* * * *
“So, tell me, what is your brother up to?” Loraine asked as they sat at the deck, watching Reno and Allan speak quietly at the cockpit in what seemed to be a serious discussion.
“What are you talking about?”
They had spent the entire morning together, catching up and now that Tyler was down for his nap, Loraine was on a fact finding mission. Something was going on and she had the feeling she was the only one in the dark about it.
“Don’t play dumb, Riana Sinclair, it doesn’t look good on you. What are you doing here?”
She sighed, throwing her hands up. “You don’t know either? Allan put us on a jet and told me we were coming to visit you, nothing else. Matthew and his family are also here but they stayed back at the resort with the kids.”
Loraine watched Reno suspiciously. He was up to something, but what? He turned catching her gaze and flashing her a smile and a wink before turning back to Allan. Yup. He was definitely up to something.
Melody’s business deal!
“He’s going to join Red Roses!”
Riana pushed up on her elbow where she lay on the lounge chair. “What?”
“Melody wants him to join Red Roses. I don’t know much about the deal but if both Matthew and Allan are here, it means they are going to discuss it and probably sign.”
Riana’s eyes widened in excitement. “Does that mean you are all going to move to the States? Oh, that would be so great having Reno close again!”
Loraine felt a chill run down her spin like an ice cube had been slipped into her shirt. Go back to the States? No way, never! Pierre was there!
“No!”
At the shocked expression on Riana’s face she knew she’d said that a little too forcefully. Taking a calming breath, she pulled her best smile and said again, “No we’re not. We decided we are going to stay here and raise Tyler here together.”
Her face fell. “Really? Is that what he wants? Can’t you convince him to move?”
No way in hell! “No, sorry. But we’ll come visit often.”
Riana raised a knowing brow. “Do I hear wedding bells?”
The butterflies that had taken residence in her belly flutter wildly. She would like nothing more, but Reno hadn’t mentioned marriage even once. Living together, raising a family together he mentioned, but marriage vows, not even a word of it, and there was only one person to blame for that.
She shook her head, blushing. “We’ve only been together a little over a month.”
Riana rolled her eyes. “But you’ve known each other for years, unlike Allan and me when we first met. Anyway, it only takes a moment to fall in love and honey, you are so in love with my brother, you’re glowing!”
She knew that, but Loraine didn’t want to get her hopes up. “After Georgia, I don’t see him asking any time soon.”
Riana growled. “The bitch! On top of everything, she kept Reno’s son away from him!”
Loraine was taken aback by the vehemence in her voice. She’d never known Riana to be a violent person she’d never even seen her throw a tantrum since they met!
“Pregnancy does change people. It’s brought the vicious side of you out.”
Riana rolled her eyes. “Whatever. After what you told me about what she did to Tyler, I think I’m justified. After what happened with Allan…I think I got a little over protective.”
Loraine nodded in understanding. She knew exactly how she felt. “Riana, do you still have nightmares over what happened?”
Riana watched her for a moment with an assessing gaze. “Why do you ask?”
Loraine shrugged. “Looking at the two of you, it’s like it never happened and I’m just wondering how you got there.”
“Counseling helps, and calling Allan a hundred times a day calms me. Loraine…does this have something to do with why you left home to hide here?”
Loraine sat up stunned. What did Riana know about that? “What do you mean?”
Riana pushed herself into a sitting position then took her hands in hers. “Your mother paid us a visit Loraine. Why didn’t you tell me what happened to you in
Paris and most importantly, why didn’t you tell me Pierre is still stalking you?”
Loraine pulled away from her like she was jumping away from ravenous flames. No, no! Why would her mother do that to her, tell her secret? Did Reno know?
She turned to him and clashed with his steel gaze. Loraine felt restless as panic consumed her. Was that what he was discussing with Allan? Was he going to change his mind? Was Reno going to send her away?
God, no. She couldn’t lose them; she couldn’t lose Reno. Not when she was madly in love with him.
Loraine brought her fist down hard on her thigh. “Damn you Pierre!”
* * * *
Reno watched Loraine as she slammed her fist on her thigh, clearly angry. He wished he would have known sooner about her parents; he wouldn’t have invited them then. They were going to ruin everything! He just hoped they wouldn’t sway her decision to stay.
“How much of a fuss are they causing?” he asked turning back to Allan.
“They wanted to come on the yacht here with us and take Loraine away. But I kept them off and Ruiz is going to make sure they don’t get off the island. I wish you’d called and asked me about inviting them before you did it.”
Reno took a deep swig of his beer. “Well it won’t matter. Loraine has made a commitment not only to me but also to Tyler. She won’t break it.”
Allan chuckled. “It’s going to be interesting seeing how it all goes down. We should probably head back and handle it before tomorrow. Oh, the lawyer and the notary arrived just as we left.”
Reno nodded. “Good. I’d like her to sign them and have them filed as soon as possible just in case Georgia decides to make an appearance.”
Allan shook his head, a foolish grin on his lips.
“What?”
“You’re not anxious at all. You are so sure she’s going to sign?”
Reno smiled. “That’s one thing I am unquestionably sure of. It’s tomorrow that has me a little nervous.”
Allan punched his shoulder. “There is nothing to be nervous about brother. You’re quite a catch, despite popular belief.”
Reno snorted turning the engine on. “Very funny. Let’s go to shore and face the music.”
