by Leigh, Mara
He slid out slowly, holding me with both arms now, one still around my waist and the other hand gripping my breast. I could tell from the hiss of his breath that even pulling out of my ass was stimulating what must now be his very tender cock.
We stayed that way for at least a minute, him wrapped over me from behind, holding me, panting, the sweat on his chest sliding against my back and his come trailing down my thigh. Then he straightened and scooped me into his arms, going in for a kiss.
“Put me down.” I kicked and bucked.
He set me on my feet.
I stumbled across the room, trying to pretend my legs weren’t jelly, or that I didn’t feel every movement reverberate through my body as pain returned to my asshole. He went to the kitchen and turned on the tap.
By the time he’d filled two glasses, I’d managed to put on my jeans and slip into my sandals. He could keep the panties wherever they’d landed.
“Need something from your place?” he asked, seeing me at the door.
“Yup.”
“Don’t be long.” He chugged down his water and turned to fill his glass again.
Thirty-One
Nick
I loved Jade. So fucking much. But we were going to have to talk about this rough sex thing. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but it was too easy for me to lose control. In the heat of it, my body’s pleasure fogged out all other thoughts, all other senses except those involved in the intersection between us. And if I ever hurt her…
I shook my head. I couldn’t bear it. When the sex got rough, I got lost in the pleasure, fucking high on it, but I felt like shit after. Especially this time.
Even though she’d finally said “I love you” and agreed to move in, it was like we’d gone backward. Back to that first night when I’d taken her hard in the club, when she’d freaked when our eye contact made her feel something real.
I set down my glass beside the one I’d filled for her. She’d been gone longer than I expected, and even though it had only been long enough for me to drink two glasses of water, I couldn’t wait to hold her again, to fall asleep with her cuddled in my arms. I should change the sheets.
I walked into the bedroom. Something was scattered over my bed.
It was the card I’d given her.
Love swept through me even harder. The card was torn into pieces, but she’d kept it. Even when she’d been so angry with me, she’d kept it, the girl who kept nothing. But why scatter it on my bed? And why now?
We needed to talk. I pulled on my jeans and headed out the door.
Someone was pulling a suitcase on the courtyard below, the wheels grinding the concrete, and I glanced over the railing, curious to see who was off on a trip before dawn.
My heart froze. “Jade!” I yelled down.
She walked faster, passing the pool.
Shoeless, I raced down, taking three or four stairs at a time, grabbing onto the railings and swinging around the landings. When I got to the bottom, she was already opening the gate that led to the sidewalk, and I ran as fast as I could, catching a glimpse of her as she rounded the corner, uphill from Shady Oaks.
“Jade! Stop! What the hell?” She’d gone the opposite direction from the main part of town, from anywhere she could easily catch a bus or a cab—likely hoping I’d head the other way.
When she realized I’d foiled her plan, she stopped. She took a visibly long breath, her shoulders heaving like I was some chore she had to endure. She didn’t even turn, didn’t release the tight grip on her suitcase handle.
“What’s going on?”
“What did you expect?” she asked when I got close.
I stepped around to face her. “I don’t understand.” I could barely talk. Out of breath and out of ideas about what I’d done wrong. Something so wrong she was leaving? Without telling me?
“Where are you going?” I reached toward her. “How long will you be gone?”
“Forever and none of your fucking business.” Her face was full of fury.
And now I was mad, too. “This is the way you deal with problems?” I asked her. “Running away? With no explanation? Without even telling me what I did wrong? Fuck you.”
“Fuck you, you liar.”
“Liar? When did I lie?”
Lights went on in the house beside us, and a man banged on his window. “It’s six o’clock in the morning!” he shouted at us.
We were yelling. “Let’s go home and talk,” I said, frustration churning inside me. Frustration coupled with fear. What if she really did leave? For real. How would I live? How would I breathe?
“There’s nothing left to talk about.” She tried to step around me.
I picked her up in a fireman’s hold, draped over my shoulder. Her suitcase dropped from her hand, and I caught the handle as I turned around.
“Put me down.” She punched at my back and started to kick.
“Keep kicking and I’m giving your suitcase to the homeless guy down the street.”
She kicked again, twisting her body on my shoulder.
“Suitcase feels heavy,” I said, “like maybe you’ve got your Grandma’s frying pan inside?”
Threatened with that loss, she stopped kicking and I held her tightly, one arm strapped across her upper thighs as I walked around the corner and back into the Shady Oaks courtyard.
If she’d packed her pan, she was leaving. For good.
“Put me down,” she said as we walked into the courtyard, “or I’ll never speak to you again.”
“Seems like that ship’s already sailed.” Plus, if I let her down, she’d just run, run out of my life forever. I didn’t loosen my grip.
She pounded on my back. “You were right the other night. You’re nothing but a brute. All brawn, no brains. This proves it. You treat women like possessions. You fuck like a wild animal. There’s nothing to you but muscle and cock.”
I dropped her suitcase, then plopped her down on her feet. My anger was now pain-tinged, and the combination was confusing. I could barely think.
“Just tell me.” My body felt limp. “What did I do?”
“Enjoy your money,” she said. “I made myself perfectly clear. Many times. You made your choice. I will not be with a criminal.”
I shook my head, relief drifting in. “I didn’t go, Jade. I didn’t go. I didn’t do it.”
She tipped her head to the side, her eyes narrow, her cheeks the cutest shade of pink. I was even attracted to pissed-off Jade.
And I finally understood. She expected everyone to let her down, and she thought I’d lived up to her worst expectations. I almost had.
“Ask my brothers,” I said. “I didn’t show. I didn’t do it. Let’s see if they’re back. They’ll tell you.” I started toward Keagan’s door, but she grabbed my arm.
“Really? You didn’t go?”
I shook my head, looking into her eyes, knowing she’d see through me if I held anything back. “I thought about it. I almost went. I wanted to do the job so I could give you your restaurant. I wanted to do that for you, for us. Plus, I want to quit my job at Solid Gold. It makes me sick to my stomach to go in there now.”
“So quit.”
“I can’t. Nicola…”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Her hand extended toward me a few inches, but dropped back.
“Turns out Nicola owns the club. She threatened me—threatened us all if I left. Me, you, our families.”
“You’re that valuable to her? I mean…”
I shook my head. “I agree. It doesn’t make sense. I think she’s bluffing, but if I quit we can’t live at Shady Oaks. Neither of us. We’ll both be homeless. And at least one of us should be working if we have any chance of landing a new place to live.”
I watched her lungs fill, like she’d been deflated and fresh air was filling her with hope and—maybe this was wishful thinking—love.
“I’m sorry.” She stepped toward me. “I said terrible things. I should have known.”
“You sh
ould have at least asked.”
“I know. I assumed…” She shook her head as if trying to sort out what had happened, shake out the horrible places her mind must have gone.
I stepped back from her. “You were already leaving. Already packed. If you knew you were going, why did you fuck me?” My stomach flipped. “And for god’s sake, why did you want me to… I hurt you. Didn’t I?”
She pressed her hands into her temples and collapsed into a crouch.
The sight nearly broke me. I dropped down and pulled her back up with me, crushed her into my chest. “Baby, tell me.”
“I’m so fucked up, Nick. I thought if I made you hurt me—”
I leaned back to see her face. “Oh, god. I’m so sorry.” I kissed her forehead. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I knew I was hurting you… Shit. I am a fucking animal.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I wanted you to hurt me. I wanted to hate you, hate everything about you so I wouldn’t miss what we have.”
I sucked in a hard breath.
“But even the anal…,” she continued. “Once I got used to it… Nick, I don’t think you’re capable of hurting me. I feel like your body knows just how far you can take it with me.”
I looked into her eyes. She was telling the truth.
“Does that mean you trust me?”
“Yes.” A smile broke onto her face. “You’re my first, you know. I was a trust virgin. Even my sister… I’ve never fully trusted anyone before now.”
“Promise me,” I said.
“Promise you what?”
“That you won’t do that again.” I held her close. “When I make another mistake, and I will—shit—I’m not perfect… Promise me we’ll talk. That you won’t run off.”
“I promise, Nick. I’m so sorry.” She leaned back to look into my eyes. “Nick Downey, I don’t deserve you.”
“You deserve everything in the world, Jade Cuoco. Certainly me.”
Her eyes changed, filling with a sadness that hurt inside my chest.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“I was so scared, Nick. I still am.”
“Scared of what?”
“I don’t know. That I’ve shown you too much—all my ugly, crazy stuff. Scared that you’ll leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. Not ever, if you’ll have me. You’ve made me believe I can do more than I ever imagined. You’ve planted wants in my mind. Dreams. Dreams for me, for us. You’ve already made me better, and you make me want to be even better than that.”
“I love you so much, Nick.”
“I love you, too.” I crushed her lips beneath mine. Probing into her mouth with my tongue. I lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around my waist, filling my entire body with joy and an absolute love for this girl—my perfect match in every possible way.
Our kiss went on for a minute, or an hour, I couldn’t begin to be sure, and then the gate to the street clanged closed, invading the magical bubble surrounding us.
I tried to erase the intrusion by deepening our kiss.
“Nick!” Mac yelled. “Fuck, man. Get a room, Brute Squad.”
Jade pulled away from my lips, but stayed in my arms, and I carried her toward the staircase—we did need a room. Then I turned back, remembering to grab her suitcase.
Shane and Dillon entered the courtyard behind Mac.
Spotting me, Shane raced forward, his face distorted with fury. “It’s your fucking fault,” he yelled, pointing toward me. “Happy now? Are you?”
I shrugged. I was pretty goddamned happy.
“You should have listened,” Shane spat out. “It was a five-man job. It would have been a piece of cake if you’d come, but no. You’re too good for us now. You and that little twat.”
I set Jade down and punched Shane in the jaw. He stumbled to the side, nearly falling.
Dillon and Mac stepped in between us, hands up. But I was already done. Shane was not worth more punches.
Holding my arm, Jade asked my brothers, “What’s wrong?”
“Keagan.” Mac shook his head. “Keagan got arrested.”
Thirty-Two
Keagan
I sat across the table from the woman who held my life in her hands. She didn’t have a knife or a gun, but Marisol Flores held the power to destroy my life. The power to put me in jail.
And in spite of the serious nature of this interview, I couldn’t concentrate, because the Assistant District Attorney happened to be the sexiest creature I’d ever seen. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Not yet. Sure, she was pretty. That was obvious. But I knew lots of pretty woman. Lots of sexy ones, too, but Marisol Flores had something else.
Her conservative outfit almost had a librarian thing going on—a gray blouse, long-sleeved and buttoned up to the neck, and a shapeless navy skirt that still managed to hint at some curves without being in the same ballpark as tight.
Her complexion was several shades darker than mine ever got, even in summer, and her skin flawless and clear. The flush on her cheeks appeared natural, as did her thick, long lashes that perfectly framed her flashing brown eyes. She wore no make up or had put it on with a super-light hand.
I focused in. Her lashes had no tell-tale clumps or specking from mascara, and they were so long and lush that they had to be fake. Didn’t they? They didn’t look fake. Extensions? I longed to get closer to know for certain, or better yet feel them brush against my skin.
If, like I suspected, her lashes were real and without mascara they’d feel like feathers, like silk if they brushed against my cheek. I sucked in a long breath imagining the sensation, and how it would feel to hold her close.
Her dark hair was shiny and tied back, and her lips were tinted with a deep, rosy red shade. But her lips had none of that shiny, sticky business going on, and no caking, no discernible edge or signs of wear. Was it possible her lips were natural, too? Lips so lush and soft and red?
Desire spiked through me, waking my dick along with the desperate need to explore all the places on her body that might match the color of those lips, places on her body I wanted to suck on, to plunge into. Holy fuck, she was hot.
“Mr. Downey,” she said, her voice colder than her looks. “Did you hear me?”
“Sorry.” I knew it would come off cocky, but couldn’t help smiling when I looked at her.
I fought the corners of my mouth, amused by her cool, prim expression with something else smoldering deep underneath.
“Did you ask a question?” I shook my head. “I haven’t slept in three nights, and I don’t know what’s going on here. My concentration’s a bit off.”
Compassion flashed in her pretty brown eyes—dark chocolate around the edges, melting into something closer to caramel near the middle—all of it gorgeous. Then she blinked and those long lashes kissed the tops of her cheeks.
“What were you doing at the corner of Middle Harbor Road and Maritime Street on Saturday night. At 1:57 am Sunday morning to be exact.”
I raked back my hair, desperate for a shower. “I already told your friends in blue. Several times.”
“How about you tell me, too. Just to make sure I have all the facts straight.”
“I’m flattered.” I leaned back in the chair, trying to pretend we’d just met at a coffee shop or a bar.
“Flattered?”
“How else should I feel when you’re so interested in where I hang out? Clearly you’re hoping to run into me again.”
The flush on her cheeks deepened and she brushed back a few hairs that escaped from her bun, tucking them behind her ear that sported a tiny red gem.
“It’s okay.” I grinned. “I like it.”
“Like what?”
“That you’re interested in me.”
She sat up straighter. “Mr. Downey. I assure you. I am only interested in your whereabouts as it pertains to criminal activities.”
I nodded, widening my eyes like I’d just figured something out. “Oh! You’re telling me it’s a crime t
o stand at Middle Harbor and Maritime at 1:57am? I didn’t see the posted signs. Finally, I understand why I’m in here.” I lifted my hands in surrender. “I plead guilty.”
“You do, do you?” Her eyes clouded with suspicion. Not even a bit amused by my teasing.
“Yes, Ms. Flores.” I looked down at her left hand, long elegant fingers un-tainted by a wedding band. “Or is it Mrs. Flores?”
“Ms.” She gave her head a sharp shake as if angry for taking that bait.
“Boyfriend?”
“Excuse me?”
“Girlfriend?” I licked my lips quickly. “Because a serious crime has been committed if you don’t have someone in your life to treat you special, to give you everything you need, everything you most desire.”
The flush on her cheeks spread and deepened, and she raised a hand to her chest, just below her throat. Even though her blouse blocked my view, I’d lay a heavy bet her body was flushed red there, too. A hint of it peeked out at the base of her throat.
What was it? I wondered. Why get so hot and bothered by some silly flirting?
Sure, women tended to like me, but no way was I her type. She probably went for lawyers or bankers or captains of industry. Even if she liked to slum it, she seemed too smart and sophisticated to get all flustered by jailhouse flirting.
Her tongue explored her teeth and she sucked on the insides of her cheeks like her mouth had suddenly gone dry. Nervous? Turned on? My instinct said yes to both, but neither really made sense. Something I’d said, something about me had rattled her.
I sucked in a sharp breath. She was hiding something. Yes. My teasing had scraped up against a deeply hidden secret, but what?
Whatever it was, Dillon would find out. And then I felt sure we’d find a way to use it against her.
Thirty-Three
Nick
“Is that porn?” Jade asked as she walked up behind Dillon and Mac, both staring at Dill’s computer.
