Fragments (The Broken Series Book 2)

by Cox, Carrie;

  “Harder,” she whispered.

  And that was almost my undoing.

  I thrust again and again, fast and hard as sweat coated my body. I couldn’t think of anything else other than the hot feel of her around me as the tightness built up. I was desperate for release.

  Her head fell back against the pillows as she clutched at me, and I felt her tightening around me again as she moaned in pleasure.

  It was enough to send me over the edge. I moved harder and faster until I came, and my shout echoed Kristina’s as I filled her with a final hard thrust.

  32

  Kristina

  Afterwards, I pressed my cheek against Jack’s hard chest, listening to the steady thud of his heart as I tried to catch my breath.

  I couldn’t believe I’d been so brazen, but Jack hadn’t minded me taking the lead. I smiled as I ran my fingers over his taut abs.

  “That was amazing,” I said, unable to stop myself from grinning.

  Jack smiled but he was quiet. Too quiet.

  I propped myself up on my elbow and studied him. As usual, I could tell from his expression that something was bothering him. He couldn’t hide his feelings.

  I felt a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. My voice was quiet and trembled slightly.

  Jack turned to face me. The bed sheets covered his lower half but his torso was naked.

  I leaned forward so my forehead rested against his. I knew what was coming. I should have been prepared. My heart was pounding.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  There it was, those six words I’d been dreading.

  I took a deep breath and rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling.

  “So talk.” I couldn’t keep the bitchy tone from my voice. Why should I? He was about to break my heart, and I wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

  I felt the mattress shift beside me, and in the next moment, Jack rolled on top of me. His weight pinned me to the bed, and he grasped my wrists holding my arms above my head.

  I wriggled, annoyed. “Well? You’ve got my attention. Talk!”

  His eyes widened slightly in surprise. I felt mean as I saw the hurt flicker across his face. But I didn’t relax, and I didn’t apologize for snapping at him. My whole body was rigid, waiting for him to give me the brush off.

  I mean, surely he could have waited until I’d at least put my clothes back on. He didn’t need to completely humiliate me like this.

  “I went to see Rita today,” he said, studying me closely for my reaction.

  I froze. Well, that wasn’t entirely unexpected, I told myself. They’ve got so much more in common. This wasn’t personal. We had both known it wouldn’t be a long term thing.

  I bit down hard on the inside of my mouth. I wasn’t going to cry.

  “Rita,” I repeated dully.

  He shifted slightly and lowered his head so that his lips traced my cheek.

  It was too much. He couldn’t go on giving me mixed signals like this. It wasn’t fair. When he looked at me like that, I could almost believe he loved me. Almost.

  I struggled, trying to free my arms from his grasp. When he didn’t release me immediately, I shouted at him. “Let go!”

  Shocked, he let go of me, staring at me as if I’d lost the plot completely. “What’s wrong, Kristina?”

  I stared back at him in disbelief. Then I shook my head, and said, “You were saying?” I arched an eyebrow.

  Jack ran a hand through his thick dark hair. He was struggling with this.

  Good. I didn’t want it to be easy.

  I pulled on my robe as he continued, “Rita wants me to race for Volder racing next year. She’s had a contract drawn up.”

  He nodded at the pile of paperwork he’d dropped when he’d first come into my room.

  “And you?” I asked. “What do you want?”

  He lowered his head and sighed before saying, “I want to race again.”

  I tightened the cord on my robe. He sat there looking so miserable, I actually started to feel sorry for him. He hadn’t made me any promises after all.

  “I hope it works out for you,” I said. The words tasted bitter on my tongue, but I meant them.

  Jack took a deep breath and reached out for my hand. He raised it to his mouth pressing his lips against my palm. My whole arm tingled in response.

  “It will mean a lot of traveling,” Jack said. “Mostly in Europe.”

  I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms over my chest. I tried to smile. “I suppose I had better start looking for a new job.”

  “No,” Jack said quickly. “That’s not what I want at all. I want you to come with me.”

  My jaw dropped open. That certainly hadn’t been what I expected.

  “But I…”

  Jack stood up and pulled me into his arms. “Hear me out. I’ve got things worked out. There’s no reason you can’t come with me. We can change your role. You’ll be my assistant.” He winked at me. “My very personal assistant.”

  Despite everything, I blushed and smiled.

  Seriously, surely I should be past the blushing stage by now.

  “What about Alexander?”

  Alexander was the one who had actually employed me in the first place. I wasn’t sure he would be very keen on this idea.

  “It’s nothing to do with my brother,” Jack scoffed. “I’ll be employing you. Not him.”

  Talk about a one eighty. My mind was reeling. Could I really accept his offer?

  Jack nuzzled my neck. “Just think of all those countries you’ll be able to visit. England, France, Italy, Spain,” he said, interspersing the countries with soft kisses on my neck that made me shiver.

  I felt a delicious pleasure building deep inside me as I turned my head so my lips met his.

  Who was I kidding? Of course I would accept his offer. When had I ever been able to resist Jack Harding?

  33

  Two days later, I was looking after Elizabeth while Kate took a shower when I heard the sound of a car door slam outside.

  I carried Elizabeth over to the window and pulled back the drapes. I felt icy fingers of dread crawl down my spine.

  It was Rita Volder.

  She was dressed in a black pant suit and white shirt, which was low-cut at the front; too low-cut for my liking, especially if she was about to see Jack.

  I took Elizabeth with me downstairs. I reached the galleried landing just in time to see Jack greeting Rita with a kiss on the cheek.

  No need to be jealous, I told myself. It’s just business.

  Rita caught sight of me then. She raised a hand to wave, her gold bracelets jangling on her arm.

  I waved back and continue down the stairs to meet them at the entrance way.

  “This is it then, Jack. No backing out now,” Rita said with a grin.

  Jack showed no sign of wanting to back out. I knew he couldn’t wait to put his signature on that contract.

  A group of men in suits appeared behind Rita, I hadn’t seen them from the upstairs window.

  “Witnesses and my lawyer,” Rita said, by way of an explanation.

  Jack directed everyone into the drawing room, and as Rita walked past me, she cooed at the baby. “What a cutie,” she said.

  Jack stood by an antique oak writing table, his pen poised above the contract. Just before he signed, he looked up and grinned at me.

  This was his future. It was everything he wanted. But I couldn’t help being terrified of what might happen next.

  As Jack stood talking to the two lawyers, Rita sidled up to me, pulling back Elizabeth’s pink blanket to get a better look at the baby’s chubby face.

  “She really is adorable,” Rita said.

  I looked down at Elizabeth in my arms and had to agree. I guessed I was biased, but I thought my niece was the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen.

  “Congratulations,” I said to Rita. “I hope this works out for both you and Jack.”


  “Thank you. I have always known that Jack Harding would be the perfect fit for our team.”

  Elizabeth began to stir in my arms and I shifted her weight slightly so she could get comfortable. “Well, you got what you wanted. Jack is now a Volder driver.”

  “Oh, honey,” Rita said, leaning in close to me. “I always get what I want. Eventually.”

  I swallowed. “And you want Jack?”

  She tilted her head back and laughed. She placed a hand on my arm. “Yes. I want Jack as a driver. Nothing more.” She held up a hand and waggled her fingers at me, showing off the diamond solitaire and gold wedding band she wore. “I’m a happily married woman. Although, I can’t vouch for the groupies that follow the team. I’m glad you’re going to be coming with him. If anyone can keep Jack Harding in line, I think it might be you.”

  Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and I knew she was teasing me. I deserved it, too. Jealousy was such a pathetic emotion.

  Before I could say anything else to Rita and apologize for being such an idiot, Jack was by my side. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me tightly.

  He was grinning at Rita when he said, “So, when do we get started?”

  ***

  Jack

  Brian arrived two days after I’d first called him.

  I found him waiting in the hall after one of the members of staff had let him in to Benjamin’s house.

  He held out his hand to me formally. “Jack. It’s good to see you, man.”

  I ignored his outstretched hand and pulled the big man in for a bear hug, slapping him on the back. “I’m glad you could come. I appreciate it.”

  Brian looked a little taken aback at my enthusiastic welcome. I guess I’d never really shown before quite how much I appreciated what he had done for me. I would be the first to admit that I could be difficult. Maybe it came from being a youngest child, or maybe it was because I’d coasted through life without many setbacks, until now.

  Before Brian, there had been lots of physiotherapy staff and medical personnel who had abandoned their jobs as they’d refused to put up with my shit. Who could blame them?

  But Brian had ignored my temper tantrums. My cruel words left him unaffected, like water off a duck’s back.

  “You didn’t really leave me much choice,” Brian said. “But I’m still not convinced I’m the best person for this job.”

  I understood what he meant. Brian might not have the appropriate level of training and experience to train a racing driver, but what he had was more important. He knew me. He knew my weaknesses and he knew my strengths. I had every confidence that Brian would kick my butt until I was in the best shape of my life.

  “We’ll get another coach in as well. One of the best. But he’ll work for you,” I said dismissively. “Did you settle in at the hotel okay?”

  Brian nodded.

  I’d arranged a suite for him at a hotel in Providence, figuring that Brian would prefer some privacy, and that Benjamin Easton probably didn’t want me and my entourage taking over his house.

  “We’ll be training in town, not far from the hotel,” I said. “I’ve booked out an entire floor of a gym. But we need to arrange our own equipment.”

  I gave Brian a quick tour of the house, but I was constantly harping back to the new training schedule I wanted him to work out for me.

  After a while, Brian slapped me on the back and laughed. “You know, I’ve seen you at your lowest, but listening to you today, when you’re on top form, you really are something else.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “So sue me. I’m excited. I just can’t wait to get back on the grid.”

  “I gathered,” Brian said dryly. “What does Kristina think about all this?”

  “She’s on board. She’ll be traveling with us all around Europe.” We’d reached the huge kitchen, and I stopped by the fridge. “Want a drink?” I pulled open the refrigerator door and took out a bottle of water. Brian nodded so I handed him a bottle.

  “Things are getting serious between you two now?”

  I shrugged. Brian was a trusted friend, but I was still a guy. And I didn’t like talking about feelings especially to another guy.

  “We’re good,” I said.

  “I’m glad,” Brian said. “She’s a great girl.”

  “She is.” I opened my bottle water of water and downed half of it in one go.

  “It must be love,” Brian said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he teased me.

  “I didn’t invite you here to be my relationship counselor. So quit with the questions already.”

  I turned away and grinned. I was already snapping at him. It was business as usual and it felt good.

  34

  Kristina

  “My eyes are still watering,” I said as we climbed out of Kate’s new Mercedes – an early wedding gift from Benjamin.

  Kate laughed. “Don’t be such a baby.”

  We had just returned from a pampering session at the Newport spa. We’d been buffed and moisturized until our skin was as smooth as baby Elizabeth’s. We’d had manicures and pedicures too. That part of the afternoon had been enjoyable. The Brazilian bikini wax Kate had talked me into had not!

  “I’m not kidding. I can feel a draft. It’s chilly down there!”

  Kate giggled as she lifted Elizabeth from the car. All the staff at the spa had fussed over her, and she had loved being the center of attention. She was now sleeping soundly. “Thanks for coming. It was nice to get away from all the pre-wedding stress.”

  The wedding was only two days away now, and Kate’s stress levels had been steadily increasing over the past few days.

  “It’s going to be perfect,” I reassured her as we headed to the nursery to put Elizabeth down for her nap.

  “I’m so glad that Benjamin agreed it was better to have a small wedding. I think I would have passed out with nerves if we had had to organize the event for two hundred guests.”

  Kate closed the nursery door softly so she didn’t disturb Elizabeth. “If you’ve got time, I would love it if you could help me go over the seating arrangements.”

  “Again?” I let out an exaggerated groan. “We have gone over the seating plan five times already.”

  Kate rolled her eyes. “Don’t exaggerate. It’s only been four times, and besides, at the moment, I’ve got Lady Donnington sitting next to Rachel Stevenson, and apparently they can’t stand each other. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

  I held up my hands in mock surrender. “Well, we can’t have that. I’ll help, but give me a minute to make some tea first. I have the feeling we’re going to need caffeine to get through this!”

  I gave Kate a wink so she would know I was only joking.

  “Make mine an Earl Grey,” Kate said as I started to walk down the corridor.

  ***

  I had set the mugs on the kitchen counter and put the kettle on to boil when I heard a noise behind me.

  When I turned, my mouth dropped open.

  Jack stood there, shirtless. A light sheen of sweat glistened on his ripped torso. He smiled at me as he reached for a glass and headed over to the sink. He filled the glass and downed the water in one go.

  I stood there like an idiot, practically drooling. His body had always been toned and muscular, but after these new training sessions with Brian, he was looking crazy hot. Even his muscles seemed to have muscles.

  He noticed me staring and gave me a long, sexy grin.

  “Uh,” I said, feeling tongue tied. “Did you have a good workout?”

  He walked over to me and put a hand on either side of the kitchen counter behind me, pinning me against the hard countertop.

  “It was intense,” he said.

  I nodded slowly. “You look… like you worked hard.”

  He angled his head until I could feel the heat of his breath on my cheek. “Very hard.”

  Holy crap.

  I was feeling dizzy. I should have been used to this by now, but my body
reacted on its own. Ignoring my internal attempts to calm down.

  The sexy grin he gave me sent tingles all over my body. I clenched my thighs together.

  “You must be very tired.”

  “I’m sure I could find some energy.”

  He pressed his mouth to mine and nipped at my lower lip. I moaned with anticipation.

  He took my hand. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  “Well, I was supposed to be making tea.” I held up one of the mugs. “We needed the caffeine to perk us up.”

  “You don’t need caffeine.” He took the mug from my hand and put it down on the counter. “I’ll perk you up.” His voice was low and seductive, and I couldn’t resist following him upstairs.

  As soon as Jack closed the bedroom door behind us, his hands were all over me. I gasped with pleasure as he pushed his body against mine.

  I could feel how hard he was beneath his jeans, and it was driving me wild. I wanted more. I needed more. I could never get enough of him.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, and my fingers threaded their way through his hair.

  He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bed. He quickly stripped off my t-shirt, pausing as his eyes rested on my white lace bra. He slowly lowered one strap and then the other, then traced the pad of his thumb along the swell of my breast.

  I shivered with delight. I could feel the moisture between my thighs, and I was desperate to feel more of him. I reached up and grabbed the waistband of his pants pulling him towards me.

  His hands were everywhere, teasing and stroking until I felt like I couldn’t cope with any more.

  My hands trailed along his chest and down his tight abs before pushing past the waistband of his pants. His whole body shivered as my hand closed around the hard length of him. I stared into his eyes and bit down on my lip. I couldn’t wait to feel him inside me.

  I felt his fingers close around mine. “If you keep looking at me like that,” Jack said. “This isn’t going to last very long.”

  “Then we will just have to do it again,” I said, grinning at him.