Tested

by Stalder, Janelle

  The robe she’d wrapped around her had just dropped to the floor when the door behind her opened. Missy let out a surprised squeal as she covered her private areas, keeping her back to the person now standing in the open doorway. She glanced over her shoulder to see Tyler there, his eyes dropping down the back of her slowly, heating in a way that had her heart beating loudly in her chest.

  The arm covering her chest loosened slightly, her lips parting as her breath increased when his eyes moved upward again to meet hers. They stared at one another, neither making a move nor uttering a word. Tyler opened and shut his mouth a few times, nothing coming out, until he finally managed to clear his throat.

  “You should make sure the door is always locked, lass,” he said hoarsely.

  Missy felt her cheeks heat as she nodded. “Sorry,” she said softly.

  His eyes dropped again, tracing the smooth line of her spine, resting on the bare globes of her bottom. She watched his throat as he swallowed thickly. Without another word, he turned and left, shutting the door behind him. Missy stood there for a moment, catching her breath, before she slowly lowered herself into the hot water.

  Letting her head drop back, she stared up at the ceiling, wondering how on earth she’d managed to screw everything up in her life. Why couldn’t she just get past her fears and tell Tyler that she wanted to be with him? How difficult was that? Clearly he didn’t think she was a waste of time, if his admission from last night said anything. I’d wait forever…Surely that meant he had feelings for her, no?

  She sighed loudly. If only Phoenix were around. Her sister was always better at making sense of things than Missy was. And Phoenix certainly had more experience with men than she did. There was no one she could really talk to here. Sure, the other girls were all good friends of hers, but it just wasn’t the same. Missy had never really opened up to any of them, even before her attack. It would be weird to do so now.

  The door to the washroom banged open again, causing her to cry out in surprise. Thankfully the bubbles hid her from the green eyes that burned in her direction.

  “I thought I told you to lock the door,” he said, almost angrily. Missy started to reply, but any words were soon forgotten with the breath that whooshed out of her as she watched Tyler turn and shut the door, locking it – with him inside. He turned back around and began to undress in front of her, not saying a word.

  Missy didn’t mind, her eyes glued to his every move. She never thought watching a man remove his clothing could be so sexy, but with Tyler it certainly was. She had a sneaking suspicion that she would find anything Tyler did arousing.

  When he was completely naked, he stepped to the bath. Missy didn’t speak either as she moved forward, making room for him behind her in some unspoken understanding. Tyler’s thick body joined her, raising the water, his legs sliding on either side of hers. He was everywhere, the smell and feel of him completely encompassing.

  She slowly leaned back, resting against his chest as his arms wrapped around her. One hand splayed across her belly beneath the water, the other rested on the rim of the tub. Missy let her head fall back, simply allowing herself to enjoy being near him. This was the first time since her most recent attack that she didn’t feel panicked by the physical contact. That spoke volumes in her mind.

  Tyler shifted slightly behind her. She could feel the hard length of him against her, clear evidence that he was not unaffected by their contact either. Missy closed her eyes, allowing her body to relax further just as his head dropped forward.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  This was not a good idea. Tyler had promised himself that he’d stay away from Missy until she made the first move. After everything that had happened to her recently, and in the past, he knew that she was going to have to get over her anxieties before there could be any chance for them.

  He hadn’t been lying when he’d said he’d wait forever. After having a taste of Missy, knowing what things could be like between them, there could be no one else for him. He’d never felt such passion, such longing or electricity between himself and a woman, the way things sparked between him and Missy. She was like a jolt to his system. Missy made him feel more alive, gave him more of purpose. He actually found himself caring about another person more than he had in his entire life.

  She gave him hope. Hope that there was more to this new world than just fighting all the time. Hope that there could actually be a future after all. So he’d done his best to keep his distance. It killed him to do so, but he’d managed so far. That is, until he’d walked in on her.

  All that smooth skin, a slight sheen from the moisture in the air making it beg for his attention. He’d instantly wanted to drop to his knees behind her, and draw his tongue along the dip at the bottom of her spine. It had taken every ounce of self-control to turn and walk back out. It hadn’t lasted long though.

  Pacing in his room until the uncomfortable bulge in his pants went down, he’d left his room with every intention of joining the others downstairs. Except, instead of turning left down the hall, his feet had started right again toward the bathroom. It was as though they had a mind of their own. Walking in again to her slippery and wet, a slight blush to her cheeks from the heat of the water, he’d known right then there was no way he was leaving the room again unless she demanded it.

  But she hadn’t. No, she’d watched him strip with just as much desire in those beautiful blue eyes as he had raging through his entire body. She’d even moved forward, making room for him. Having her between his legs, the hair that was wrapped in a messy bun on the top of her head tickling his skin as she laid her head against him, it was like pure heaven. He could have sat that way forever, except her skin enticed him to taste it.

  He bent forward, his tongue sneaking out to run up along the long length of her exposed neck. Every part of her was perfect, even the thin column that arched even more as he placed an open mouth kiss just beneath her ear. She was no longer shying away from him, giving him the first bit of hope he’d had since that last day in the eastern ghetto.

  The hand on her stomach slid downward to her thigh, resting there for a moment to wait for any reaction that might say she wanted him to stop. Her only reaction was the quick intake of breath, and a slight shift of her hips that caused her bare bottom to rub against him. He groaned against her skin, kissing his way back down to her shoulder. His hand slid between her thighs, giving one a slight nudge so that she’d open to him.

  She did so without any hesitation. The feel of her against his fingers had other parts of him throbbing in envy. He stroked her mercilessly until she was crying out, her entire body now arched as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her. Tyler nipped at her shoulder as he brought her back down until she was limp in his arms.

  He simply sat there, breathing her in as she nestled further against him. Had he ever felt so content? Tyler didn’t think so. If there was heaven, surely this was his. Not some place above the clouds, but anywhere this woman was.

  Missy soon squirmed until Tyler dropped his arm away. She lifted off him, turning around in the tub so that her legs were on either side of his hips. He looked up into her eyes, bright and alive. He loved the way they sparked to life when she was aroused. Before he could prepare himself, Missy lowered herself over him until the entire length of him was buried inside her.

  They both moaned loudly. His hands gripped her hips, keeping her still so he could get himself under control before he lost it and embarrassed himself. She rocked her hips back and forth until he finally released her, and she raised herself up and back down in a torturous rhythm. It wasn’t long before he could feel her inner walls begin to tremble as another climax built.

  Tyler shifted his hips up as hers came down, splashing water over the sides of the tub. He didn’t care about the mess, only bringing them both to the utter heights of pleasure. They reached their climaxes together. Tyler pulled her mouth to his, swallowing each other’s cries. The kiss went on long after, neither one of them mak
ing a move to pull apart.

  It wasn’t until the water grew cool that he finally suggested they get out. Wrapping her in a fluffy towel, he bent down and kissed the tip of her nose as she shivered, grinning. Tyler wrapped a towel around his waist and then swooped Missy up into his arms. She giggled as he made his way to his room, dropping her unceremoniously onto his bed. They weren’t going to be leaving this room for a while yet, if he had anything to do with it.

  It wasn’t until close to dinner that they finally got up and dressed. Missy watched Tyler with a slight smile on her lips. She wasn’t sure if she would ever truly get over everything that had happened, but she knew if there was anyone that could help her heal, it was this man here. Already her heart felt more intact than it had for years.

  Tyler must have felt her gaze, his head lifting to meet hers. He tilted his to the side, giving her a curious look. “What is it?” he asked.

  Missy shrugged, pulling on her pants. “I’m just happy, I guess,” she replied.

  His eyebrows shot up. “I’ve heard that before,” he mused. “You only guess now?” He prowled closer to her, causing her body to start to heat all over again. The look he got in his eyes made denying him impossible, even though she already felt as though she could sleep for months. “Perhaps I should do more to convince you,” he said darkly, wrapping his arms around her hips.

  Missy laughed, linking her hands behind his neck. “I don’t need convincing. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, there’s no mistaking that.”

  He smiled. “As am I, lovely. As am I.”

  “So where do we go from here?” she asked, biting her lower lip.

  “Nowhere if you keep that up,” he growled.

  She gave him a light smack. “I’m serious, Tyler,” she said, her smile slipping. “What are we to each other?”

  He breathed in deeply, letting it out in a slow release. “What are we to each other?” he repeated. “Well, I don’t know about you, but to me you are everything.” His hand lifted from her hip to stroke back her hair gently. “You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up, and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. You’re the only person I want by my side every second of every day. You, Missy, are the most important person in my life now. I will do everything and anything to make you happy, so long as you let me.”

  Missy blinked back her tears as he stared down at her, his expression reflecting every word that left his mouth. She lifted up onto the tips of her toes and brought their mouths together, putting all her feelings into that one kiss. His hand gripped the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. All her senses were overpowered by this man, and now she knew it would always be him to sweep her off her feet and bring her happiness. When they pulled back, he kept their heads close, resting his forehead against hers.

  “I love you, Tyler,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

  “And I you, lass.”

  “I hope you two cleaned up the floor in the bath,” Seamus said when they entered the kitchen. Pete slapped him on the back of the head just as Charlotte uttered a quiet “shut up, Seamus.”

  Missy’s face burst into flames as some people looked their way knowingly, while the rest looked down at the table. Had they all heard them? She wanted to turn and run back into her room, but Tyler’s large body was blocking her way. That, and his palm landed firmly on her shoulder, keeping her in place.

  “Not another word,” Tyler growled.

  Seamus grinned. “She better get used to remarks now if she’s going to be joining you on your little plan,” he said.

  Missy sensed Tyler stiffen behind her. “What plan?”

  “Who said anything about her coming?” Tyler said, ignoring her.

  “We all know there’s no way you’re going to be separated now,” Garrett said, rolling his eyes. “You’ve got that same look my brother and Roman have. There’s no sense in denying it.” He looked at Missy, giving her a wink. “I’d be happy to have little Missy as my wife.”

  “Thank the Lord,” Sam muttered. “I wasn’t looking forward to the job.”

  Garrett snorted. “Don’t lie to yourself, darling.”

  Missy turned to face Tyler. “What are they talking about?” She knew Tyler was planning on going after her sister and Trent, but she didn’t realize there was an actual plan in place, or how she fit into it all. Not that she was going to complain, because she definitely had no intention of letting him out of her sight now.

  Tyler must have seen the determination in her eyes, because his shoulders slumped in a way that said he knew he was fighting a losing battle. He sighed. “Garrett is going to pose as a head hunter and I’m going to pose as the fighter he picked up. Sam was going to come too and pretend to be his wife, but I guess that privilege now falls to you.” He looked over her shoulder at Garrett with a narrowed expression. “For pretend only. Any excessive touching and you’ll find out just how good of a fighter I really am now.”

  The idea of going into another dangerous situation had her palms breaking out into a sweat, but she knew that this was something she had to do. Not only did she not want to be away from Tyler again, but this was her sister they were talking about. It meant more to Garrett and Missy than it would to Tyler, so it only made sense that the two of them go.

  Missy nodded, her nerves settling as her resolve hardened. “When do we leave?”

  WATCH OUT FOR PHOENIX AND TRENT’S STORY

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  Brush Strokes

  A Novel

  One

  Life imitates art far more than art imitates life – Oscar Wilde

  Olivia

  The blank canvas glared at me mockingly. Go ahead, it taunted. Paint something. I blew a piece of my bangs out of my eyes and sat back, the unused paintbrush dangling in my hands. What the hell was wrong with me? I’d been home for a week now and hadn’t been able to paint one thing. It was unheard of!

  “You’re such an asshole, Olivia Banks.” I looked up to see my best friend, Ella, standing in the doorway, hands on her hips, mouth turned down in a frown. Her clear blue eyes narrowed as I met her gaze.

  “Well hello to you too,” I said with an easy smile.

  She sputtered, walking further into my room. “Don’t you ‘well hello to you too’ me! I just saw your mother down at Bulk Barn and she had to tell me that you’re home. And guess what?”

  I knew what, but I played along. “What?”

  “Seems you’ve been home for a whole freakin’ week! What the hell, Olive?”

  I turned back to my yet-to-be-even-started painting and decided that it was useless. There was no way I’d get anything done with Ella here, not that I was getting far before she arrived. Placing the brush on the easel, I looked back at her, guilt sitting heavily in my stomach.

  “I’m sorry,” I offered. She rolled her eyes, throwing herself down on the edge of my bed. “Look,” I started, “it really hasn’t been a whole week. I got home Saturday, and I’ve just been so busy unpacking and getting settled that I haven’t had time to call anyone.”

  “It’s Saturday, Olive,” Ella replied in a bland voice. “So, yeah, it has been a whole week. And that excuse you just gave me? Complete bullshit. You’ve been gone now for two years, and when you finally come home you can’t take five minutes out of your ‘busy’ schedule to call your best friend?”

  Okay. So she was mad. I got it. I’d be mad too if the situation was reversed. The truth was, I hadn’t been home for so long I was worried that things would be too different between us. Sure, we spoke on the phone off and on, and we’d send each other emails and cards for our birthdays and what not, but after being away for so long one would assume things would be a bit…I don’t know…awkward.

  I’d been away at the best art school in the country for my sophomor
e and junior years. I felt – out of touch with things back home. And it was a small town, so being away for two years pretty much made you a leper in everyone’s books. I had no idea what was going on with most of the people I had grown up with. Well, except Ella. Damn. I really should have called her. Now I felt like an ass.

  “I really am sorry,” I said, getting up to sit down beside her. “You have every right to be mad at me. I’m a terrible friend. I guess I was just afraid to see people again.”

  She turned to look at me with her big eyes all round and puppy-dog-like. It was like a physical punch to my gut. I was used to that look, it had gotten us out of trouble countless times in the past, especially if it was one of our dads who was giving us crap. I don’t think any man with a beating heart could look at her sad face and not give in to her every whim. It was a talent really. I wish I had it.

  “Even me?” she said with a small pout. I shrugged, speechless. “I’ve been waiting for forever to have you back, Olive. I’m so damn happy you’re here I want to crawl out onto your roof and scream it to the whole neighbourhood.”

  “Please don’t do that,” I said quickly.

  “Fine. The point is, we’re best friends, no matter how long we’ve been apart. You shouldn’t be scared or worried to see me. We’re BFF’s. That second ‘F’ stands for FOREVER, Olive. Forever. Got it?”

  I laughed, hooking my arm around her neck and giving her a tight squeeze. How could I have ever thought it would be weird between us? It’s Ella. We’d been twin souls since she moved here in grade four and we both showed up the first day of school wearing the same purple dress with white polka dots. If that’s not fate, I don’t know what is.