Her Release (One Night Stand Book 3)

by Toni J Strawn

  I would find the other way.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Van

  I was packing the last of the boxes when I got the first text.

  Shoes.

  My heart leaped into my throat. It was from Jess. I hadn’t realized I’d landed on my ass until Mom put her hand on my shoulder.

  “Are you okay?”

  I looked at my phone again. The message told me nothing. Could have been a wrong number. Disappointment swept away my initial excitement.

  “I’m not sure.”

  I had called everyone I could think of to track Jess down after she’d left me at the assault course. Of course, everyone at the clinic had stone-walled me. Jess was special to them. In the end, Thomas Langford was the only one who’d talked to me about her.

  He’d told me to leave her alone. And he’d meant it. The snarl in Thomas’s voice was nothing like the suave politician I had met at St. Mathews a few weeks back, and only reinforced how much I’d hurt Jess.

  I had hoped she might trust me enough to get in touch. Or at least be angry enough to rant and rave and yell at me. Her continued silence was the worst punishment she could have meted out. And I had done everything to deserve it. I’d blown it by not being honest with her. By not trusting her. I hadn’t given Jess a chance.

  So, I had backed off. I’d run home with my tail between my legs, just like I’d run from everything else in my life. I’d been treading water all this time and I hadn’t even seen it.

  “Is this the girl you were telling me about?” Mom perched on top of the box I had finished packing.

  “Yeah.”

  Guilt of a different kind gnawed another hole in my chest. I gave my mom a half-assed smile. Here was another important woman in my life who’d proven I was an arrogant prat. I had come home expecting to see a frail old lady who needed to move out because she was no longer able to take care of herself.

  Not the case. Mom was moving into a retirement complex, yes, but only because that was where her friends were. With me being absent so long, she’d come to recognize she needed people in her life. I had hardly seen her since I’d been back. She was too busy. She’d moved on.

  It was time for me to move on too. We’d spent yesterday going through Ryan’s room and packing it up. I had been dreading this moment for the last five years, but as it turned out, it hadn’t been the sad experience I’d expected. There had been tears, yes, but there were also childhood memories to recall, memories of the love and life we’d shared as a family.

  “You’d think you were past the age of having to tell me about your girl troubles.” Mom chuckled.

  I huffed out a breath. “I hurt Jess. She deserved better than that.”

  “It’s because you love her.”

  My head jacked up at my mom’s perceptiveness. This was the woman I remembered from my childhood, diving straight to the heart of the matter. Taking none of my bullshit.

  I dragged a hand through my hair. “I don’t know how to make it right.”

  She shrugged. “You’re scared. That’s natural. But you’re not responsible for how she feels. You don’t have the right to carry that too.”

  I grimaced. “But I had the right to make sure she knew everything. And that’s where I let her down.”

  I glanced at my phone, hoping something had magically appeared on it. The screen remained clear of new messages. Her text must have been a mistake. I tucked my phone back into my pocket, disappointment gnawing at my gut, and got back to packing.

  “You’ll know what to do when the time comes.” My mom gave her last piece of advice. “You always do.”

  At any other time, I might have agreed, but I had no control over this situation. To get Jess back—if that were even possible—I would have to lay my heart open at her feet and trust in her not to stomp her orthotic-clad heels all over it. Trust that she would give me a chance.

  And why should she, when I hadn’t done the same for her?

  The thought sent icy shots of regret through my veins. That was it, wasn’t it? I was scared of letting go of my control. But if I wanted Jess that was exactly what I had to do, because I was more terrified of losing her than any other inconsequential thing in my life. My program meant nothing. I didn’t give a shit whether I stayed here…in Baltimore or fucking Timbuktu…

  My phone let out a beep and I caught my breath when I saw another message.

  Maps.

  It was Jess. This couldn’t be a mistake.

  I sat on the couch before my legs gave out.

  “It looks like you might get what you deserve after all,” Mom said, a smile flirting around her lips. “I’m off to the mall with Fran now. Don’t wait up.” She dropped a kiss on top of my head and left me to it.

  By the time I had washed up and changed, another two texts had come through.

  Snacks.

  Compass.

  Heat spread out from the center of my chest, leaching like warm liquid through my limbs. I knew where this was going.

  I contemplated my phone for a moment before swiping my thumb across the screen.

  “Van?” The call connected straight to the person who held my heart and something settled inside me. Just the sound of her voice brought me the sense of peace I’d been missing since the day Jess had left.

  “If this is hiking essentials, you’re missing the most important thing.”

  “Oh?” Jess’s voice was light and teasing, like she knew she had me.

  She totally had me.

  “You and me.” I breathed the words into the silence.

  “Well, I’m here.” Jess paused. “Are you?”

  I jumped to my feet, glancing around the room like an idiot, as if I expected her to jump out from behind the stack of boxes.

  “Tell me where you are and I’ll be there,” I vowed. I would drive across every state if I had to.

  “I’m outside.”

  I dropped my phone and ran to the door. My heart slowed to a stop, warmth buzzing through my chest. There she was, leaning up against a giant black SUV with Thomas Langford at her side.

  And then she was in my arms.

  I closed my eyes and took a long, sweet breath. She felt so good. Like everything was suddenly right in the world. Her hands were in my hair, brushing at my cheeks. She pressed her lips against mine and I knew I was close to losing it. I concentrated on the feel of her mouth, the soft rasp of her tongue as she licked inside. With a groan, I pulled back. I didn’t want to do this, not in front of Thomas. Not out on the street. I wanted this moment for me and Jess alone.

  “You’re here,” was all I could think to say.

  “You promised to take me into the Appalachians,” she said, grinning. “You can’t welch on a promise.”

  “Uh, if you’re done with me, I’ll head off.” Thomas drew our attention his way.

  “Sure. And thank you so much.” Jess wriggled out of my hold, scooting around to hug her cousin.

  “Any time.” Thomas glared over her head at me. “You take care of her.”

  I nodded. Message given and received. This was my one free pass as far as Thomas was concerned. And despite his smooth political veneer, something told me Thomas Langford was not a person to be fucked with.

  “Jess can take care of herself.” I spoke out loud, returning my own sage advice.

  “Damn straight.” Jess waved Thomas good-bye, then came over to fit herself back in my arms.

  “So you really want to go hiking?” Now we were on our own, going for a walk in the mountains wasn’t big on my list of priorities. Besides, I didn’t know if I could physically let Jess go right now.

  “Yeah. Not just yet though.” She nodded toward the house. “Is this where you grew up?”

  I tilted my head to look at her. “How did you know I was—” The answer dawned on me. “My mother?”

  “Yeah. She must have gotten my number from your phone, because she called me and told me you were here. Just in case I wanted to visit, she said.”
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  “And she told you everything else, I presume.”

  “Yeah.”

  I closed my eyes, trying to imagine what exactly that would entail. I sighed. She would know absolutely everything.

  “So, you know I love you.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And that I’m so fucking sorry?”

  “Yes.” Jess fiddled with the hem of my T-shirt, lifting it enough to slide her fingers underneath. “Me too.” She looked up shyly.

  I sucked in a breath. “What are you doing?”

  Jess nuzzled up to my throat. “We have a lot to talk about, but I want to talk later.” She nipped at my neck then soothed the sting with an open-mouthed kiss.

  I about shot out of my skin. I shuddered, pressing my lips to the top of her head.

  “What do you want to do, then?” I didn’t know how I got the words out without tripping over them.

  Jess pushed her hands farther under my T-shirt, running her fingers over my chest, skirting around my nipples.

  “I want you to make love to me,” she said.

  I stifled a groan as she moved in to capture my lips. Her mouth parted on mine and I slid inside to taste her sweetness. She kissed me slowly and thoroughly until we were both breathing hard, fighting for air. I pressed her hand to my chest and my heart beat hard beneath her fingers, pounding out my love for her. I felt the perfection of our connection all the way through my body.

  She drew back a little, enough to see my face. “Aren’t you going to sweep me up and carry me off?” she asked, wriggling against me.

  “Not unless you want me to.” I leaned my forehead against hers, breathing deep. “I’m not going to ruin this by trying to control it. This moment belongs to you. I’ll do whatever it takes.” My mouth dipped as the enormity of what I’d nearly lost hit me again.

  Jess brushed fingers against my jaw, bringing my gaze back to her. “I fucking love you. So deal with it.” She slapped at my shoulder, punctuating her words. “I want you to pick me up,” she said, heat blistering in her gaze. “I love that you take control. I love that you know exactly what I want before I do. I love it when you lose control.” She paused to smile at me smugly. “You can carry me wherever you want, caveman. As long as we’re together, I don’t care.”

  I had her in my arms and was shouldering my way into the house before she’d finished talking. I headed for the couch, then stopped and turned for the stairs.

  “Definitely a bed moment,” Jess murmured against my lips.

  I wasted no time getting her to my room.

  “Stay here,” I growled, propping her on top of my dresser while I wrestled half-packed boxes off my bed.

  She mewled with disappointment. Which was exactly how I felt. My balls were tight and aching, my hands shaking with the need to be on her. Once the bed was clear, I went back for Jess, easing between the vee of her legs, getting in as close as I could. Jess could still reach between us to undo my pants. She pushed them over my hips. I followed suit, lifting her ass to get rid of her panties, pushing the cups of her bra down to expose her breasts.

  “Mmm, just the right height,” I murmured, sucking the pink tip of her nipple into my mouth. She gasped, back arching, thrusting her breasts out.

  Control danced between us in our urgency to come together. Jess snatched at the condom I offered, ripping it open with her teeth, her brow furrowed in concentration as she rolled it on to my cock.

  “Mission accomplished.” She leaned back to survey her work.

  “Not quite,” I growled.

  I tugged her hips forward, my cock finding her entrance. I could feel how wet and ready she was for me. I wanted to close my eyes and relish the sweet feeling of pleasure the knowledge gave me, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to miss a minute of this.

  Jess wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling my mouth to her. Her feet settled into the small of my back and she lurched forward to impale herself on my length.

  “Ah. Fuck. Yes.”

  I nearly tumbled over, the intense pleasure of having my cock so deep inside Jess buckling my knees. I swung around, aiming for the bed, tumbling onto the covers, still joined with her at the hips. She tried to roll on top of me, but I held her beneath me, thrusting deep. Pounding into her.

  It wasn’t a show of control. It was because I was out of control. Her sexy little noises urged me on and I drank in her wild-apple scent, burying my nose in her throat, needing to taste her. Take her. Her back arched into the air, her sheath tightening around me like a glove, her nails digging furrows in my ass.

  “Yes, Van. Yessss.”

  Her scream flipped my switch and I stopped noticing anything but the exquisite slide of my cock, the clench as her orgasm gripped me, my balls tight and heavy. I jerked inside her, come spilling up my cock in hot spurts, pleasure an explosion that hit deep. A moment of perfection.

  “I lose myself every time I’m near you,” I said, needing her to understand exactly what she did to me. The fact she shredded every last inch of my self-control when she was around.

  “Shh.” She burrowed her head into the crook of my shoulder, pressing a kiss against my chest. I went to protest but she shut me up by clamping her hand over my mouth. “We both have things to learn. But let’s save the best for later.”

  “The best?” I spoke against her fingers.

  “Later.” Jess replaced her hands with her mouth, the softest of kisses.

  A tremble shuddered through me, my love for Jess a ferocious need that came close to consuming me.

  “Later,” I promised. “Yeah, later.”

  Then I relinquished myself into Jess’s control.

  About the Author

  Toni Strawn lives in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, the adventurers’ playground. She fell in love with romance early, smuggling books from her mother’s forbidden bookshelf to read late into the night.

  A self-confessed tomboy, Toni likes her heroes tough and her heroines tougher. When not locked away in her Romansion, a tiny writing shed at the bottom of the garden, Toni can be found feeding her addiction to paranormal romance novels.

  www.tonijstrawn.com

  www.twitter.com/toni_strawn

  www.facebook.com/tonijstrawn/

  Look for these titles by Toni J. Strawn

  Now Available:

  His Rules

  The Rebound

  Her Release

  Coming Soon:

  His Redemption

  Catch a sneak peek of Thomas Langford as you have never seen him before.

  He will fight to the bitter end.

  Turn the page to begin the first chapter of His Redemption

  Chapter One

  Talia

  A knot of people had assembled in a cluster at the far end of the alley. The stink of the place burned my nostrils—decaying food from the dumpsters lining the back of the buildings, wet wood and rotting cardboard. A kitchen hand emerged from a dimly lit door, took one look at the gathering straight from Wellsford’s underbelly, and scurried back inside. He didn’t want to be involved.

  Neither did I.

  “Talia.” Terry half-turned to acknowledge my approach.

  I swallowed back my own greeting, averting my eyes. Terry was a regular to the fights, but this wasn’t the place for happy hello’s and warm welcomes. The less people knew of me the better. And that included my name.

  I shivered against the damp, seeping cold. More people drifted in and the air thickened with mounting tension; excitement for the coming bout, anticipation of the win, worry for the last few dollars that were riding on the brutal outcome. I let my gaze sweep the area, checking for cops. It looked like the usual crowd, but you could never be sure. Frosted breath left my lungs on a long exhale. Not long to go and I could be rid of this. My brother, Jet, had promised it would be the last time.

  One contender for tonight’s win was here already. He fought under the name, Kilkenny. Some Irishman, fresh off the boats. He bounced around the cleared space like
a Labrador puppy, laughing with his pals, brimming with confidence. If he realized who he was up against, he mightn’t be so cocky.

  “So, you’re running this show.” He sprang up in front of me, a grin on his face.

  I startled, stumbling into the person behind me.

  “Watch it.” A nudge and a growl pushed me back into place.

  Kilkenny grabbed my arm to steady me. “So how does this work? The fight thing. I win and you pay everyone out?”

  “You shouldn’t be here if you don’t already know,” I said coldly, staring pointedly at his hand on my arm.

  He released his grip. “Yeah, yeah. Fine. Just checking.” Kilkenny flashed a cheeky grin and bounced away.

  Terry shook his head. “Fucking amateur. Where the hell does Jet find these guys. You okay?” He peered in at me.

  I patted down my pockets, checking for the wads of cash my brother had given me for payouts.

  “All good.” I blew out a breath, wishing this were over already.

  My prayers were answered when his opponent arrived a few moments later. A ripple of anticipation shuddered over the crowd, quieting the laughter. Nixon. He walked out of the darkness, a hoodie pulled down low over his face. The zip of his top was open, and I couldn’t see much more than shades of grey and black beneath. Still, a shiver of heat ran down my spine. I knew from previous fights that what lay beneath was tight, lean muscle, flowing down from his abs all the way to the waistband of his shorts.

  My gaze lingered on the hem of his hoodie for a beat before I tilted my head upward. Nixon’s eyes were deep in shadow, but I felt his pull as he scanned the crowd. My heart thumped in my chest when his attention rested on me for a second or two, but I couldn’t read his expression, other than a tightening around the strong line of his jaw. A moment later his gaze skipped over the rest of the crowd to zero in on his opponent.

  “You ready?” His words were roughly spoken, but I caught the faint inflection of a cultured accent behind his growl.

  I leaned forward, curious to find out who he was. I arrowed in on the curve of his generous lips, recognition tugging at the back of my mind. Something about him was familiar… the fractured memory of his features was elusive and fleeting, slipping away before I could connect the dots. Jet and I only knew him as Nixon, and from the little I’d gleaned, he was extremely private. When he wanted to fight, he texted, his messages coming from a different number each time. My brother would send back the details, and that was the extent of our communication. Until he showed up, all muscle and dark intent as he rolled out of the shadows.