Stripped Bare

by Lyssa Cole

  I grab her just then, pulling her in for a tight hug. “Thank God for that.” After releasing her, I grab her hand and begin running towards the door. “Let’s go find her.”

  I kept Alicia behind me as we navigated through the dark building. It looks like we are in some old warehouse of some sort. There are a million rooms and hallways, they could be anywhere. The gun was out in front in case anyone came popping out.

  We slowly checked each room, coming up empty. I glance back at Alicia, “Do you think they could have left?”

  Alicia shrugs her shoulders, looking unsure and scared. “I… I don’t know Jax,” she whispers, her voice quivering.

  A loud voice suddenly booms from the end of the hallway causing us to jump. I pull Alicia into a side room, tucking her behind me, as I glance out into the hallway. John comes out of the very last room, pacing back and forth.

  “We need to get out of here fast. And we can’t have those fuckers slowing us down. Go get rid of them now. Kill them, get rid of the bodies. Whatever. I don’t ever want to see them again.”

  Two beefy guards run by us as they head back to search for us. Fuck. We have to act now before they see we are gone. I hear Maddie cry out and that’s it. I fucking can’t anymore; my heart is breaking every moment I am not with her and she is getting hurt.

  Turning to face Maddie, I whisper to her, “Listen, here is the plan. I am going to sneak down there and I want you to wait here.” She begins shaking her head, her eyes conveying her panic. “It will be okay, Alicia. You have to be strong. For you, for Maddie, for us, to get out of here. Okay?”

  She nods, more tears coming down her face. I hug her quickly, then push her into the room further. “I will come for you when I have Maddie, okay?”

  Alicia nods again, sliding down to the floor, curling into herself. Sobs rack her body.

  I turn and head for the door, my hand curling around the gun. I will kill these fucking assholes and then I will get my girl. Nothing will stop me.

  Chapter 30

  Maddie

  I press myself to the back of this dirty, disgusting couch, panic gripping my entire body. My hands are tied together but I am no longer gagged. I don’t say a thing for fear of more hits, kicks, beatings that I just can’t handle. My face and head are already swollen, both of them throbbing relentlessly.

  My brother, Connor, sits next to me on the couch, close enough so I can’t try to run. He keeps giving me sideways glances. Fuck him, he’s a fucking traitor in my book. Turned out just like dear old dad, must be so proud of himself.

  I on the other hand, can’t stand even looking at his face. He isn’t even a brother to me anymore.

  “What’s wrong, you little slut?” Connor says as he watches the tears slip down my cheeks. I won’t even give him the pleasure of answering. “Not enough dick for you lately?”

  I turn my head away from him, trying to ignore his dumb questions. He grabs my chin, spinning my face to his, and slaps me so hard across my face, my entire cheek stings.

  “You answer me when I speak to you, you fucking whore!”

  “Maddie, answer your brother,” My father says, strolling over to us. “He’s going to be in charge of you and your men now so you better get used to what he says.”

  I cringe inside, my world crashing around me. I can’t go back with them, I just can’t. I love Jax, the happiness he brings me. I will never be happy at home. Ever.

  How can anyone be happy being abused? Being treated like a whore, a no good sex slave?

  By your own father and brother for fuck’s sake?

  Sobs rack my body as hot tears continue to pour down my face. My brother is a miniature version of my father. No remorse, no love, no respect.

  I hope karma gets them back for everything.

  In a flash, a gunshot goes off and my father slumps to the floor. What the fuck?

  I look up to see Jax standing in the doorway. Panic and relief flood through me. Connor instantly stands up, rushing to Jax, throwing a punch clear clean across his chin.

  Jax only roars and slams my brother back, knocking him straight on his ass.

  My brother is fast, quickly recovering and hopping back up on his feet. He punches Jax in the stomach, knocking the wind right out of him. Jax topples back and I scream, trying to get to my feet, using my arms to push me.

  Connor hovers over Jax and begins kicking him, delivering swift kick after swift kick. My heart is breaking watching Jax get hurt so bad and I wish I could help. I try screaming but it’s no use, my gag is too effective.

  Next thing I know, Connor comes slamming to the ground, Jax having grabbed his leg, pulling his feet right out from under him.

  Connor’s head slams against the floor with a horrifying cracking sound, blood pooling beneath him. Jax stands, the gun pointing straight down at him.

  Without even looking at me or breathing a word, he pulls the trigger, the shot a direct hit.

  ***

  The next few events happened fast, my mind spinning, unable to process all that has happened. Jax swept me into his arms, then we were running down the hallway as he shouted Alicia’s name.

  Alicia. Thank God she’s okay.

  She appeared from a dark room, looking in pretty bad shape. Jax placed me down gently and I ran to her, crashing myself into her, my arms wrapping around her back. She squeezed me back, both of us sobbing. I felt Jax wrap his arms around us both and we all stood there frozen in time, so thankful for each other.

  ***

  Alicia decided to stay a few extra days, needing to put the events behind her. All of us needed each other. It seemed crazy to me how life can change so quickly. One minute you go from relying on family, to the next minute relying on people who aren’t even blood. People that just purely love you. Love can carry you through. When you strip everything away, what is left? Love. It’s always love.

  I didn’t mourn the loss of my father and brother. I had done that a long time ago. They haven’t been in my heart in years, ever since the abuse began.

  My mother is who I still need to mourn. I still love her and I always will. She never got the life she deserved. She was a beautiful person inside and out and I wish she was here with me now and we could be happy together. There is no grave for her or memorial. So I have decided to make one here in Italy for her. A beautiful grave yard is just down the road from our house, and she will be loved there. I will plant a garden, placing her favorite flowers and a statue of hers I have always kept with me. She loved art work and this was her favorite piece. I stole it from my father’s office.

  I understood why Jax had to kill my father and brother. He did it to protect me. I couldn’t go back to that abuse, that life. It would kill me. And they were planning to kill Alicia and him. I just wish I understood more why they were who they were. My mother wasn’t like them. Maria was her name. I will always picture her as happy, her long brunette hair flowing down her back, a wreath of flowers in her hair that we made together.

  But now my life gets to begin with Jax. He will always love me, protect me, keep me safe. And that’s all I ever will need.

  Except maybe a few babies and lots of wine?

  Epilogue

  Two years later…

  Maddie

  I stand on my front porch, looking out over the hills, down onto the village below. The wind blows through my hair gently, cooling my skin. I smile at nothing, so happy to be in this place. Italy is beautiful.

  I feel hands slide around my waist, pulling me against a warm body. I sigh, leaning back against Jax. He nuzzles my neck, planting soft kisses along my collar bone. “Mmmm,” I groan, loving the feel of him on me.

  His hands run over my belly and hips, then grip me tight, spinning me to face him. I smile up into his gorgeous face. He leans down, pleasuring me with a soft kiss, before leaning back. “How about going out for dinner tonight, gorgeous?”

  “Going out for dinner? But I just made fresh bread and picked some tomatoes.” Jax grins and I can t
ell he has something up his sleeve. My mind goes blank as I try to quickly think. He proposed to me already so what else could it be?

  I think back to our proposal as if it was yesterday….

  I’m reading in my garden of flowers as I so often am. It’s peaceful and serene out here and I love the smell of my garden. I planted all my favorite flowers, using tall sunflower plants to outline the edges. In the middle is my area, with a chair and a blanket. All I ever need.

  I hear a rustling near the end and there is Jax, looking stunning as always. The Tuscan sun has done wonders for our skin, leaving us tanned and glowing. His shorts hang low on his hips and he his chest is bare, his toned body with his stunning ink on full display.

  Jax’s eyes lock with mine, such intensity flowing through them, I can feel the air crackling around us. His love shines through, making me flush. This man cares about me more than I could have ever dreamt of. I smile at him.

  Jax doesn’t say anything, nor does he smile back. Making his way over to me, he drops to his knees, his eyes never leaving mine. He doesn’t speak, just continues staring at me. I can hear my pulse beating loud in my ears, my flush deepening on my face, running down to my chest. Butterflies are having a party in my belly and I clasp onto my necklace in habit. “Jax?” I whisper.

  “Maddie. I love you so much, I can’t live without you.” He grabs my hands, bringing them to his lips. After placing a few kisses along my fingertips, he brings them down to my lap, still holding onto me. His head bows as he begins to speak the most real, raw words he has ever spoken to me…

  “I knew it was wrong to like you, to be attracted to you. I was there for a job, to simply find you and deliver you. But once I saw your face, my world shifted. You made me feel things I have never felt before.” Jax looks back up at me, tears glistening in his eyes, threatening to spill over. “I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. Finding you on those videos, feeling what we felt through a fucking camera, I just knew I had to meet you. And then meeting in person confirmed it. The spark was there, the chemistry, the lust, the desire. It knocked me on my fucking ass.

  Next thing I knew; I was falling hopelessly in love with you. And now, Maddie Kaplan, I ask you,” Jax shifts to one knee and my heart begins to race even faster if that’s possible, feeling as if it is going to explode out of my chest, “will you please complete me by marrying me?” Stands and reaches around my neck, fumbling with the necklace clasp with his big fingers. I chuckle softly, a few tears slipping down my cheeks. When he finally gets it unclasped, he is back down on one knee in a flash, and then he grabs my left hand, sliding my mother’s ring on my finger, the chain still dangling from it. “I knew you would want to be married with this special ring, since she can’t be here with you, but she will be here with us within this ring. We can have it resized and even reset if you would like.”

  Tears are streaming down my face as I wrap my arms around Jax’s neck, my head nodding furiously. “Yes, yes, yes…” The word keeps pouring out of me as Jax lifts me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. Then he sears his mouth to mine and I finally stop speaking.

  “Mads? You in there?” Jax is asking, his eyes searching mine. Shit, I got caught up in that memory.

  “Sorry, yes, I’m here. Okay, okay, let me just go change.” Jax grins but doesn’t let me go.

  “Oh? You need to change? I can certainly help with that.” Suddenly, Jax lifts me up, hoisting me over his shoulder, and I yelp in surprise. He then slaps my ass and I yelp again. “Jax!” I giggle, loving every fucking minute of it.

  “Oh you love it you naughty girl.” Jax carries me into the bedroom, throwing me down onto the bed gently. I stretch out sexily, moving my hands along my sides and shimming my way up the bed.

  Jax’s eyes darken as he watches me, the bulge in his pants already noticeable. I sit up, deciding I want to take control this time. Usually Jax loves to be the leader, pleasuring me countless times, not that I’m complaining, but he deserves it too.

  I quickly climb to the end of the bed before Jax tackles me and I grab his waist, holding him still. He looks down at me, a slow smile spreading on his face.

  Grinning up at him, I unzip his jeans slowly, pulling them down so they fall at his feet. He kicks them off as I reach inside his boxers, slipping my small hands around his hard, warm cock. Jax groans, throwing his head back, then dropping his eyes back down on me. I pull his cock out and grip his shaft, running my hands along it. It is so long and thick, the veins pulsating in need.

  I lick my lips, excitement buzzing through me at the thought of tasting him. After a few more strokes, I grip the base of his shaft with one hand, using my other hand to massage his balls, as I wrap my mouth around the head of his cock. I swirl my tongue around, licking every inch, the soft mushroom tip tasting divine.

  Jax groans loudly, sliding his hands into my hair, gripping my head. I begin to suck his cock hard, pushing my mouth all the way down and then back up, sucking as I move up, popping off at the top. He becomes even harder, the top of his cock swollen and red. I back off with my mouth for a few and stroke him as I continue to massage his balls.

  Jax stares down at me, the lust in his eyes feverish and I know I am going to get it hard. I can’t fucking wait. The thought fuels me on and I plunge my mouth back down on his cock, sucking long and deep. I take my hands and wrap them around to his ass, moving him back and forth against me. I want him to fuck my mouth and fuck my mouth he does. In and out he thrusts as I suck, his grunts and moans getting louder by the second. Moments later, his hot seed pours into my mouth and I drink it down greedily, loving the taste of him. I continue sucking him, milking his cock until he’s dry. My hands slide up his shirt, over his rock hard abs, my pussy soaked.

  I feel Jax’s hands slide up under my arm pits and I am hoisted onto the bed. My clothes are practically torn off me as the rest of his own clothes fly off him. And then Jax worships my body.

  And by worship, I mean he doesn’t leave an inch untouched. His licks and kisses every inch of my skin and when he lands between my legs, he eats me with such ferocity, I would think he was starved. I cum and cum as he continues to eat me out, his tongue and fingers working pure magic.

  When he has finally had his fill, he licks his way back to my mouth, his entire mouth devouring mine. Our tongues whirl and swirl together, passion exploding between us. I can feel his cock hard against my belly and I can’t wait to feel him inside me.

  Quickly, Jax pulls his mouth from mine and spins me around so I am face down on the bed. He grasps my hips, pulling my ass into the air, and I gasp, not expecting that. He spreads my legs slightly, exposing my pussy more, his finger gliding along the seam, coating me with my own juices.

  I cry out as he thrusts into me, filling me to the hilt. His hands grip my waist as he pounds into me, our skin slapping together loudly. I scream his name, my entire body racked with pure bliss. I think of nothing else but Jax as he slams into me over and over again, his hands roaming my body, grasping my breasts.

  Jax wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me up as he lays down and I ride him on top, facing away from him. I use my knees to plunge up and down, grinding down each time my pussy hits his pelvis. I can feel another orgasm building but I want to see Jax’s face as I cum, as he cums. I stop moving and spin myself around, never pulling his cock out of me.

  I lean down and kiss him with everything in me, then I pull back slightly, whispering against his lips, “I love you, Jax, forever and always.”

  “I love you too, Maddie.” He whispers back.

  And then we both rock into each other into our orgasms, our worlds exploding around each other as we ride the waves of pleasure together. And did Jax end up having something up his sleeve? Of course he did, a gift worth a lifetime to me; a stunning portrait of my mother he had custom made for me using a photo he found of her when digging through some of my old things together.

  Could this man get any more perfect?

  ***

  5
years later…

  Jax

  I rock on the porch swing slowly, my wife draped across my lap, her huge pregnant belly peeking out from under her shirt. I rub her belly, my eyes drifting closed in the late afternoon sunlight.

  Our life is beyond perfect. It’s magical. We are still here in Tuscany, still living in our gorgeous dream house, and now our first baby is on the way. I don’t think we could be happier if we tried.

  Well…I do keep telling Maddie I want a bunch of kids, a huge family. The more love to go around the better. I don’t think she is going to buy into that.

  And I keep inviting my siblings out here, trying to convince them it will be such a happier, more satisfying life for them. Josh broke up with his crazy girlfriend but is back in our hometown, go figure. And Jenn is still drifting through life, lost. I want her to come here and find some peace.

  But for now, I have Maddie. And the huge surprise arriving tonight for her. Just in time before the baby gets here. We don’t know the sex yet, but I have a feeling it’s a beautiful girl just like Maddie, who will be named Maria after her mother.

  Back to that surprise. Alicia is arriving tonight and Maddie has no idea she is coming. The best part is, she’s here to stay.

  I lean down and kiss Maddie’s cheek and she smiles up at me, her face full of love. My life will always be complete with Maddie by my side.

  Acknowledgements

  I want to acknowledge my writing career. I hope this proceeds into a satisfying and successful career. I will continue to work my ass off as I strive to be successful! I love thanking people. Remember, be there for people and be kind, as you will need someone one day too.

  About the Author

  Lover of books, avid book reader, enjoying writing my own fantasies & stories, and of course loving my family including my 2 dogs and 3 cats.

  You can probably find me sipping some coffee or maybe wine (is it too early for some wine?) and swooning over my latest book boyfriend. (Yes, I have lots!)