by Jessica Gray
Ben slowly turned the handle and opened the door a sliver, only to see Irena on the bed in her underwear, her husband kneeling atop her and trying to subdue her as she fought to get her arms free.
The veins in his neck bulged in fury as the urge to jump on the bastard and kill him surged forward. But unlike fifteen years ago, he’d learned to control his emotions. He closed his eyes for a moment, to find the inner calm needed for a successful strike. After several carefully measured breaths, the hot rage had left his body and he could consider the best approach with a calm mind.
But what happened next in the bedroom had his eyes widening in shock. God damn, Irena!
Chapter 27
Irena bit back her tears as she acknowledged the futility of her attempts to struggle free. She’d never be able to win a fight against Fred, just like Ben had warned her.
Despite her desperate situation, the image of Ben somehow helped her to get her racing thoughts and emotions under control. And then she heard Ben’s voice in her mind: You have to hit where it hurts.
Looking up at her husband she saw the determination flaming in his eyes. He wanted to prove his power over her, make an example. If she wanted to stop being a victim, it was now or never. Her entire body stilled and the trembling subsided.
Irena gathered up all her courage and focused her entire being on the next step. At pure force of will, she relaxed her muscles in the attempt to lead Fred to believe she was finished fighting him. Then she searched his eyes.
“Okay. You win,” she said, voice calm and sure.
Fred tipped up one corner of this mouth.
“Smart move. You’re starting to learn.”
He rolled away and then reached for her, with the clear intent to remove what little she wore. Irena didn’t waste the opportunity, using her knee to kick him in the crotch with all of the strength she could muster.
After the thud followed his scream, he fell to the floor, his hands clutching his crotch. For a moment, Irena stared at him with satisfaction, but then she rolled off the other side of the bed and grabbed the lamp from the nightstand.
“That was the last time you will ever touch me, or I will go straight to the police and tell them everything. And I mean, everything.”
His only response was a pitiful whining sound.
From the corner of her eye, Irena noticed a movement at the bedroom door and jumped, the lamp held up in her hands.
“Who’s there?”
The door swung open and a muscleman stepped inside. Before the man’s identity registered in her brain, her arms lifted the lamp over her head and prepared to bring it down with all of her might.
“Whoa! Slowdown, babe. You wouldn’t want to hurt me, would you?” a familiar voice asked. The man kept his distance until the light of recognition flared in her eyes. “Ben!”
“I’m so proud of you, baby.”
Irena got lost in Ben’s stunning blue eyes, not sure if her overtaxed brain had conjured him or if he really stood before her.
“Is it really you?”
“In the flesh.” He approached her and stretched out his hands. “Can I have the lamp?”
She looked at the lamp in her hands and nodded. Ben uncurled her fingers from around the lamp and set it back on the nightstand. All adrenaline drained from her body and left her with shaky knees. Just before her legs were about to give out, Ben pulled her into his arms.
The warmth of his body enveloped her and she knew the nightmare was over. Ben was here.
“You’re here? How? How did you find me? How did you get in? Where’s the bodyguard?”
“Shush, it doesn’t matter right now. Are you okay?”
“I will be. You’re here.” She pressed tighter against his hard chest, into the safety of his arms.
Ben kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and finally her lips. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
Irena shook her head and stepped back, looking down her body. Ben’s eyes followed hers, scrutinizing every inch of her practically naked body, leaving a tingling awareness in their wake. She blushed with a mixture of embarrassment and instant arousal.
She wanted nothing more than to feel his strong body wrapped around hers, but the moaning coming from the man still writhing on the floor reminded her of reality. Irena had no idea what to do next.
“Could you take care of Fred? Make sure he can’t leave or create anymore havoc.”
“It would be my pleasure, baby.”
Irena slipped into the large walk-in closet and for a moment she feared Ben would do something stupid as she heard him growl at the writhing Fred.
“You really are a piece of shit. Mother fucker, let’s see how bad you are without your goons around.”
***
Ben had been longing for revenge for such a long time. His sister’s betrayal had haunted his piece of mind for fifteen years and made him into a distrustful man, but his former boss’s calculated sellout hurt even more.
Night after night, he’d dreamed about vengeance. Punishment. Smashing his face. Twisting his balls off and shoving them down his throat.
But now that he saw the sorry excuse of a man whining on the floor, he couldn’t feel anything other than relief. Irena was fine, and he’d be fine too. He yanked Fred up by his shirt collar and then forced him into a chair that was sitting against the wall. Just as his eyes searched the room, Georgia popped her head inside.
“Come in,” he offered.
She grasped the situation immediately and asked, “What do you need?”
“A Rope. Anything you can find that I can tie him up with.”
Georgia nodded. “How about a couple of belts?”
“Excellent idea.”
He kept an eye on his captive until she returned with three leather belts.
Ben wrapped one around each of Fred’s arms, securing them to the armrests on the chair. Then he used the last belt to imprison Fred’s ankles. He reared back to assess his work with a satisfied glance and then bent down to Fred and said, “If you ever lay hand on Irena again, I’ll personally make sure that it’ll be the last thing you do.”
Fred swallowed hard but didn’t utter a word.
Irena returned, dressed in a designer t-shirt and a pair of embellished jeans. She looked freaking sexy. Against Ben’s better judgment he felt a rush of lust coursing through his veins. Goddamit. She’s just escaped violation from her own husband and all you can think of is sex. Don’t you know better than that?
She walked over to her best friend and hugged her as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
“Thank god you’re okay. I was worried sick,” Georgia said, near to tears and gave Irena the short version about her visit to Tough as Nails in search of her.
Irena looked up to meet Ben’s eyes and he felt himself blush under the intensity of her stare.
“Thanks to Ben I’m fine.”
Pride and embarrassment fought within his chest as he answered. “No babe, you did it all alone and I’m so proud of you.”
“But you gave me the confidence in my own strength and taught me how to defend myself.”
Her loving glance made his world stand still and in that very moment he knew he didn’t want to spend one single day without her for the rest of his life.
Georgia covered her ears and giggled. “It’s getting way to cheesy in here.”
“Irena! Untie me now, damn it!” Fred used the temporary silence to remind them of his presence.
Irena let go of Georgia to step in front of her husband. For a moment, Ben felt an icy grip around his heart, afraid she would give in like his own mother always had. Every time his mother had been given the opportunity to make a better life for herself and her kids, she’d folded. Every time she’d been given a second chance, she’d blown it. Ben opened his mouth to plead with Irena, but again she stunned him with her response.
“Fred, you are despicable. I’m done trying to pacify you. I’m filing for divorce and if you don’t sign the papers when they’re
delivered, I will be going to the police with everything I know. You can kiss your high-powered political aspirations goodbye.”
Ben heard Fred’s outraged answer and decided to add a little fuel to the flames.
“And if what she knows isn’t enough, I’ll be sure to fill in the blanks for her. By the time she gets done, you’ll be looking at life in prison. I’m sure you’ll have no problem becoming some murderers bitch in exchange for his protection.”
Irena’s head flung around to stare at Ben. He shrugged. Fred was the type of man who only understood intimidation. It was way past time for him to get a taste of his own medicine.
When Fred didn’t say a word, Irena took another step toward him and stood with her arms crossed.
“Do we have a deal?”
“I can’t believe I ever married you,” he spat. “I put the world at your feet and what do I get in return?”
“Divorce. I’m done with you.”
Irena squared her shoulders. Ben silently applauded her spunk and courage.
Fred seemed to think for a moment, but then he sneered.
“Fine. If this is what you want. Untie me and then get the hell out of my house.”
Ben observed Irena for a sign of what he should do, but she didn’t look at him. Her eyes shot daggers at Fred and Ben barely contained his amusement as she turned the tables on her husband.
“The only one leaving this house is you,” she stated with a matter-of-fact tone. “You will leave right now and never come back. I’ll have my attorney send the divorce papers to your office.”
“But…” Fred crumpled in the chair. “This is my house…”
“Not anymore. Leave now before I change my mind and call the police. I’ll have the cleaning lady pack your stuff and send it to your office. This is my house now. I’ve paid for it already with my pain and suffering.”
Everyone in the room knew Fred didn’t stand a chance against the three of them, not in this room and not outside of it. Even if he’d win at court, it would be ugly and would end his political career. He was much better off to accept Irena’s generous offer.
“Fine, now untie me.”
Irena nodded at Ben, who unfastened the belts, hauled Fred to his feet and ushered him out of the bedroom and out of the house. Then he entered the kitchen to do the same with the bodyguard who was just starting to come around to consciousness. Georgia had followed Ben downstairs and now met him in the hallway.
“Did you take the trash out?” Georgia asked with a smile.
Ben chuckled. “Just now. You leaving?”
“Yeah. It looks like you have everything under control here. ”
“Thanks for your help. And sorry I mistrusted you.”
“No need to apologize, I didn’t trust you either. Apparently, you’re a much better man than I gave you credit for. While I would never fall for an ex-criminal, I told Irena you’re a keeper. Take care of her, okay?”
Ben was moved by the approval of Irena’s best friend. “Sure will. My blood still boils when I think about what that shithead wanted to do…”
“Don’t think about the what-ifs. We arrived here in time, and it so turns out she kicked ass all by herself. Good job, trainer.”
Ben chuckled. “She did kick ass, didn’t she?”
Georgia let herself out of the house and he withdrew his cell phone to call Fernando, asking him to come by and change the locks on the doors and install a security system later in the week. Then he placed a second call to the gym, letting them know he wouldn’t be returning after all. Tim assured him he had it covered and Ben was free to take care of things on his end.
Pocketing his phone, he dashed upstairs, and pushed the bedroom door open to see Irena finishing up changing the bed linens. She stood at the sound of his steps and sent him a small smile.
“He’s gone?”
“Yeah, so is Georgia.”
He hesitated for a moment, not sure what would be appropriate to do, but Irena launched herself into his arms and he hugged her tight.
“You okay?”
She nodded against his chest. “In your arms, I will be.”
Chapter 28
Irena loved how Ben swept her up in his strong arms and carried her into the bathroom, where he set her down on the toilet and started the water running in the tub.
“Uhm…I already took a bath. In fact, I spent quite a bit of time in there earlier…”
He grinned at her and butterflies occupied her stomach.
“But that was before. I want you to wash his touch off of your body. He won’t ever hurt you again.”
She looked at him and then bit her bottom lip before asking, “Are you going to wash me off?”
“I’m not sure that’s such a great idea. I…We…We should take it slow,” Ben answered but the need in his voice betrayed his words.
“I need you now. Help me erase the memories and replace them with new ones. Amazing ones.” She stood up and stepped close, drawing her fingers down his tattooed arms. “Will you make love to me?”
His eyes lit up, but he shook his head. “Babe, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You would never hurt me. Please.”
Ben ducked his head and kissed her.
“Pigheaded girl. How could I resist? I’ve been strung tight since I first met you. But you have to promise to tell me to stop if you’re even a tiny bit uncomfortable.”
“I will.”
I won’t ever tell you to stop. Irena was sure there wouldn’t be anything awkward or uncomfortable about making love to Ben. It would be exactly the cure she needed to feel whole again. Loved. Desired.
He turned the water off and carefully stripped her of her clothing, swept her up in his arms again and settled her into the tub. Then he followed suit, and settled himself behind her, drawing her back against his chest.
Irena relaxed her soft curves against his hard wall of muscles and sighed. He picked up a sponge and dragged it across her skin, her arms, across her collar bones.
“Don’t freak out, Ben, but … “ The sponge came to a stop on her stomach and Ben’s entire body tensed. She half-turned in his arms and stared into his steel-blue eyes. “I love you.”
A breath escaped his throat. “Whoa.” Irena smiled into his eyes filled with love and honesty. “Irena…I thought I’d never say this, but I finally found a woman to trust and love. You. I love you, too.”
They sealed it with a kiss and Ben began nuzzling her neck and licking behind her ears. She moaned in delight and scraped her nails across the tops of his thighs, where the evidence of his desire became hard to ignore.
Ben took her earlobe between his teeth and whispered, “Let me take you to your bed and seduce you properly.”
Irena breath hitched. “Seduce me?”
What does he think he’s doing right now? Keeping me calm?
But instead of answering he’d already left the bathtub and now swept her up into his arms again.
“I could get used to being carried around,” she said.
Ben chuckled. “Whenever you wish, Babe.”
Then he spread her out on her bed and began to lick off every trace of wetness from her skin. Irena squirmed and shivered under his touch.
“Are you okay?” he asked in a soft whisper.
“Better than ever.”
A moment later he dipped his fingers between her thighs and she gasped. His big hand moved up and down her folds and his thumb grazed over her swollen clit. The touch sent waves and bolts throughout her body and she bucked her hips.
“My god, you’re so wet. So sexy. Are you sure you want this?”
Irena looked down his muscled chest and glanced at his very impressive erection. It was huge, but she was desperate to feel him inside of her.
“Very sure. But…”
“But what?” He stilled, his hard length poised at her entrance.
“You have to go slow.”
Ben chuckled. “It will be my pleasure. And yours.”
&
nbsp; Then he proceeded to tease her nipples while his erection pushed into her tight channel. The fire of pure lust ignited every cell of her body. Ben paused several times to help her accommodate him, until minutes later he was buried to the hilt inside her. Irena had never felt so complete before and she wanted to burst with joy.
“Oh! Ben, that feels so amazing,” she moaned.
“It does Babe,” he said and set a steady rhythm of strokes.
Words became lost except for the occasional murmur and plea from her lips for him to continue. Irene felt the coiling feeling become bigger and bigger. The shockwaves of pleasure originating from her breasts and her core clashed together, consuming her body from top to bottom.
Her inner muscles clenched around his hard length, her hips bucked into him and her nails dug into his back for stability. Ben moved inside her with careful, tiny movements until her control hung by a thread, and then he sent her over the edge with one powerful last thrust, her orgasm ripping a scream from her throat, and an echoing yell as he followed her over into paradise.
An eternity later, she collapsed against his chest, and he nuzzled her neck as his own heart rate calmed down. She tipped her head to the side and kissed him tenderly, whispering the words to express just how special the attraction between them was to her.
“Thank you. Thank you for rescuing me. For putting yourself on the line to save me.”
Ben hugged her tight and whispered back, “Thank you for saving me. For helping me to trust again. For rescuing me from a lonely and loveless existence.”
***
This was the second book in the BAD BOY LOVE series It’s a spin off my popular Falling for Him Series. You can find the reading order here.
Haven’t read Fernando’s story? Scroll down for a preview or order right now. He’s every bit as sexy and loving as all my heroes are, but he has some serious struggles to overcome to find his HEA with Gwen – his probation officer no less.
The next Bad Boy to find love will be Matt. And guess who’s the woman he’s falling for? Lovely Georgia.
