“Why don’t you have a lot of stuff?” he asked her. She worried her bottom lip. He ran his palms up her hips then down her thighs. Back and forth, he caressed her.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you leave things in New York?” Slayer asked and leaned onto his side on the bed.
Turbo stroked her skin under her shirt and then her belly. He felt something and slightly lifted her up.
“What’s this?”
She leaned back and ran her hand over his.
“Belly ring,” she whispered.
“What?” Slayer asked and sat up to look.
“That is sexy,” Turbo told her and ran his palm along the piercing and then lifted her up, lowered her to the bed, and then explored her belly with his mouth.
“Turbo,” she said and grabbed on to his head.
“I can’t resist. I had to watch this sexy body work in Helen’s kitchen and all I could think about was kissing you.” He then leaned up and kissed her mouth. She ran her fingers through his hair, and he felt the bed dip, and then Slayer joined them. His cousin ran his hand under her top, over her belly, and right to her breast.
She pulled from Turbo’s lips and turned to the left only for Slayer to cup her cheek. “Hey, beautiful,” he whispered and then leaned down and pecked at her lips as if testing her state of mind before he deepened the kisses.
They were moaning and exploring her skin, her breast when she pulled from Slayer’s lips.
“Oh God, where did slow go?” she asked. Slayer and he chuckled as Turbo stroked her belly ring and then the crystal charm on it. It was feminine and sexy.
“Out the window the second we laid eyes on you. We can’t help it, baby. The attraction is so strong. Can’t you let us in and accept us?” Turbo asked and stroked her hip.
“I want to. I really do, but I need time for a reason.”
“Some guy hurt you? Is that right?” Turbo asked.
She didn’t reply.
“Essie,” Slayer said her name and she looked at him.
“It’s complicated.”
“What in life isn’t?” Turbo pushed.
“This is different,” she replied and sat up. They did, too.
“How so? I mean, is he still a problem?” Turbo asked.
“Yes, but it isn’t what you think.”
“Then fucking explain, because if this guy has the potential to hurt you again or isn’t leaving you alone, then we have a right to know,” Slayer said all possessive like. It surprised Turbo. He was always more aggressive than Slayer. She pursed her lips.
“Slayer, this is why I’m not ready to explain it all.”
“I want to protect you and be with you. Saying that aloud is not in my personality. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Slayer asked her.
She looked from him to Turbo and then took their hands and held them on her lap. She closed her eyes and exhaled.
“Part of both of your personalities honestly scare me, and also affect me.”
“We don’t want to scare you,” Turbo said to her and used his other hand to stroke her hair.
“I know you don’t, and that’s why I need some more time. It’s me, not you,” she said and then brought their hands to her lips, and she kissed their knuckles. It was sweet just like Essie.
Turbo narrowed his eyes at her and looked at her body.
“This is torture,” he stated very seriously.
She smiled and then reached up and cupped his cheek.
“For me, too if it makes a difference,” she admitted and he nodded his head.
“I think the AC works,” she said and started to get up.
Turbo placed his hand over her hips and belly, then lowered her back down to the bed.
“We should see how it works when the heat is turned up.” He covered her mouth and kissed her, feeling so hard and hot. No amount of AC would cool him down or calm him down, but claiming Essie.
* * * *
Essie set up her umbrella for when it got too hot in the sun on the beach. She laid out her big blanket as well as the small cooler. She was glad she invested in the beach cart to carry all the stuff from the parking lot to the beach. As she started to put on her sunblock in the shade of the umbrella, her eyes landed on a guy with no shirt on and tattoos along his shoulder. He was tan, muscular and—
Her breath caught in her throat. It was Max. Holy shit, and he even had tattoos on his chest and one surrounding his belly. She looked away as he turned, preparing to sit on a chair and sunbathe. God, what were the chances that he chose the same beach as her and the same spot to lie in? she wondered, and then couldn’t help but to think the guys were relentless in their pursuit of getting her to feel comfortable with them. She even discussed things with Precious this morning and explained about the anxiety attack. Precious gave great advice and Essie realized with her lack of sleep and full-fledged panic attack she had pretty much every morning, that she needed to make some changes.
She admitted to herself that she liked making out with Turbo and Slayer on her bed, and his idea of testing her AC to handle heat had been one hell of a test.
Then this morning while she was on her run, she bumped into Cobra and Ford. They jogged with her and talked about a bunch of things before they had coffee at the café down the block. Then they both kissed her breathless before leaving her to head home.
She knew they were strategically planning these little sessions of bumping into her. It didn’t upset her. It made her smile and think how genuine they were and how they were trying to give her time. She liked all of them, and now that Max was here, she anticipated spending time with him, too.
She turned around and prepared her chair. She was glad she wore the royal blue bikini and even had her belly ring in. That, Turbo and Slayer definitely liked. She blushed from the thoughts of them playing with it and kissing her all over her skin. She heard a whistle and turned to see three guys walking by, close to her age, and checking her out. She ignored them until one guy walked so close to her blanket he kicked sand onto it.
“Hey,” she said to him.
“Hey yourself, cutie. You all alone out here?” he asked, eyeing her over. His friends did, too.
“Take a hike,” she said to them, and one of the guys whistled.
“A woman as sexy and beautiful as you should not be alone on the beach,” he added. She felt a little concerned, but then someone came up behind him and slammed their hand on his shoulder.
“She isn’t alone, asshole,” Max stated, and the kid jumped.
He looked at Max as his friends hurried away, seemingly aware that Max was bigger, taller, and looked like he could kill them.
“Shit, sorry, man. Your girlfriend is hot,” he told him and then took off practically running.
Essie placed her hands on her hips as Max gazed over her body.
“Fucking kid is right, woman. You sure as shit don’t belong on a beach wearing that, and all by yourself with no protection.”
“Who said I didn’t have any protection, and why does it matter what I’m wearing?” she asked. He stepped closer, closed the space between them, and pulled her into his arms. She grabbed on to his forearms.
He gazed over her breasts, then her lips.
“Jesus, Essie, do you have any idea how fucking hot you are?” he asked her. She felt her cheeks burn. Her lips parted. He stared at her with a firm expression.
“Ask me to join you,” he demanded.
“Wasn’t that your point of coming here?” she countered, and he squinted at her.
“I was just going to lay out for a while.”
“Same beach and same spot that I always lay out when I get the chance?” she asked suspiciously. He smirked and stroked her cheek.
“Baby, maybe we’re not the only ones who think you should let down that guard and give us a shot.” She took a deep breath and exhaled, but then felt his lips press against the corner of her mouth. He then whispered into her ear.
“Invite me to join yo
u, please.” He looked at her.
“Go get your stuff,” she said. He winked, and her belly did a series of flips and flops. Jesus, he was lethal.
He released her, and she instantly felt the loss of his touch. As he went back to his spot to grab his things, she ran her hand over her belly, made sure she looked okay and then prepared to lay out in the sun. It was hard, though, as she took a seat on the blanket and he joined her, exposing all those muscles and tattoos, looking sexy, older, and protective as he stared at her body while she lay out in the sun. She could feel his eyes on her, and she prayed he thought she looked incredible. Thank you, Corey Jones, for being such a demanding kickboxing instructor.
* * * *
It took a bit of time for Max to get over his rage at those assholes who were hitting on Essie. Holy shit, what if he wasn’t there to intervene? Would they have invaded her space entirely and forced themselves onto her blanket? Onto her? He was fuming still, but grateful he had been there and gotten rid of them. Her body was exceptional, and that belly ring, fucking sexy. He couldn’t wait to tell the guys, so he snapped pictures of her as she lay, eyes closed in the sun looking perfect. He chuckled as he got the various responses from his brothers and from Slayer. They liked what he sent, but not that she was alone and random guys had hit on her.
“I thought you were here to lay out and relax,” she said, her eyes still closed.
“I am relaxing.”
“You’re playing with your phone.”
“My fingers like to keep busy,” he said, and she turned to look at him, squinting.
“Are you all Special Forces?” she asked him, surprising him.
He turned onto his side to face her, and she did the same, causing her large, full breasts to push further from the skimpy top. He loved how she had definition in her arms and thighs, but it was her dark blue eyes and the expression on her face that drew him in.
“Yes, we’re all Special Forces.” He saw her swallow hard.
“That’s an elite branch of the military, isn’t it? I mean, you guys have capabilities that other soldiers don’t have?”
He eased closer, reached out, and placed his hand on her hip. He stroked her hip, and she held his gaze. He ran his hand along her thigh, then up her arm and shoulder.
“Lots of branches of the military have special capabilities, but Special Forces are pretty badass,” he said and winked. She smirked, and gazed over his muscles. He felt his cock harden. She reached out and stroked the tattoo on his chest.
“What does this mean?” she asked, and, holy Christ, the feel of her soft, feminine fingers on his skin aroused him.
“It means death before dishonor,” he stated. She stared at his lips, and he inched closer. He stroked her hair from her cheek and then leaned closer, feeling her out.
“Max,” she whispered.
“Essie,” he said and smirked. She smirked, too, and then he pressed his lips to hers.
It was a soft, gentle kiss, and when he pulled back to see her reaction she seemed okay. “What else do you want to know about us?” he asked her.
She shifted on her belly, making him lose the great view of her luscious breasts, but now he could see her ass in that sexy blue bikini.
“You’re all so serious all the time, especially Slayer, Cobra, and Turbo. Heck, even you. I think Ford is the most easygoing. Why are you guys so intense, and look like you’re ready to kill someone all the time?” she asked. He raised his eyebrows up at her. She chuckled.
“Bad question?” He stroked her shoulder.
“No such thing as a bad question. I guess we are pretty serious. It has a lot to do with our training. We’re taught to be on guard and expect the unexpected. Can’t do that if we lose focus. Someone could get hurt or killed, or we could get hurt or killed.”
“But you’re civilians, not active duty, right? Is it post-traumatic stress, or something psychological?” She asked him, and his gut clenched. Was she involved with a soldier at one time who had PTSD and hurt her? He felt angry, sick to his stomach.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t ask such things,” she said and rolled to her back. “No, I want you to be honest and ask me, and the others, anything you want so you won’t fear us.”
She looked at him, and he leaned over, put an arm over her waist, and stared down into her eyes.
“Were you involved with a soldier that had PTSD?” Her eyes widened. She shook her head.
“You can tell me. I mean, if that’s why you fear us, why you think we could snap and hurt you or something then I understand. PTSD is a serious disorder and if it goes untreated that person could become dangerous, aggressive, or obsessed.” He saw the tears in her eyes, and then she rolled back to her side to face him. She whispered to him.
“Something happened, Max, but I’m scared to talk about it. I don’t want to believe that you or your brothers and cousin could ever do me harm, but the fear is there for several reasons.”
He caressed her hair and held her gaze. He wanted to know who hurt her and scared her so much.
“Baby, can you explain a little bit? This is the most you’ve revealed, and it’s helping me to understand your hesitation in accepting us. Perhaps if you shared some details it would ease our minds and yours so we can move on and explore these feelings,” he said. He stroked her shoulder and hip, then over her ass.
“I’m embarrassed,” she whispered.
His heart ached. “You trusted this guy, this soldier, and he hurt you?” She shook her head.
“I don’t understand. Help me to understand,” he said. She swallowed and then began.
“I was out with friends. We frequented a few bars and clubs along this one strip in the city. We were familiar with the area, with mass transit, so we always went there and enjoyed dancing and meeting people. One night we met several guys, and this one guy, really big, and good looking approached me. I got this feeling. As he talked, it got stronger, and in all honesty, I didn’t feel an attraction to him. I was polite, though,” she said, and he figured she would be. Perhaps even a pushover if the guy was aggressive. She was just too sweet.
“Anyway, another night we were out again, and that same guy was there, and I saw him watching me. It put me on edge.”
“Of course it did.”
“I guess it was later within the week that I started getting these messages on my cell phone. Breathing, not words or anything, and then I’m out with friends, and he’s there. He approaches and starts talking to me and asking me out. I tell him I’m not interested in dating anyone. He gave me the creeps and like I said, he was a big guy. He seemed upset, but he walked away. A few days later, someone breaks into my car. Some things were missing, like my lip gloss, a sweater I had in the back seat, not money or anything, so the police didn’t think it was a robber. I mentioned the guy at the club, but they blew it off, said they would locate him, but I didn’t have a full name, just knew him as Blade. That’s what he called himself.”
“Did you see him again?” he asked her.
Her eyes filled up with tears. She moved closer to whisper as if afraid someone might hear her. He was inches away and holding her gaze.
“I was walking home from work.”
His heart was pounding. Please don’t say you were attacked and raped. Please don’t say that. Poor, sweet Essie.
“I was almost home when suddenly someone grabbed me. Put their gloved hand over my mouth and dragged me into the alleyway. I tried fighting him off, Max. I tried,” she said as tears fell. He ran his arm over her waist and pulled her against his chest.
“He struck me repeatedly. Beat me until I was unconscious.”
“What? It was the guy from the club?”
“I believe so. It’s who I said I thought it was when the police and detectives questioned me a week later.”
“A week later?”
“I was beaten so badly I was in the hospital for three weeks.”
“Holy fuck.” He ran his hand over her ass and lower back, and squeez
ed her to him.
“He didn’t rape you, touch you?” She shook her head.
“I wondered why, and so did the police, but then after I recovered and was at work, and they said they couldn’t find him, someone broke into my apartment. They tore the place apart and left a knife in my pillow. It was him, Max. I know it was him.”
“Jesus, and the police couldn’t find him?”
“No, and it got so bad because I was living in fear, having nightmares, the anxiety attacks that I have every night fearing that he will find me.”
“Baby, you ran away from New York to come here to hide from him?” he asked as her red eyes watered more and she nodded.
“Fuck.” He hugged her tight, and she sobbed against his shoulder. No wonder she was so scared.
“I had to leave there, Max. When the police and detectives were gathering fingerprints and looking for evidence,” she said and then stopped. He stroked her hair.
“What?” he asked.
“They found cameras, Max. He was spying on me. Saw me naked. Saw me showering, sleeping, and…Oh God.” She sobbed, and he held her close and rubbed her back.
“Son of a bitch. What a fucking asshole. The police couldn’t find him?” he asked and she shook her head as he continued to console her. No wonder she was so scared of them, of letting down her guard.
“Honey, we would never hurt you, force ourselves on you, attack you, do you know that?” he asked her.
“I want to follow my gut and believe that’s true and that I can trust each of you, but Blade was Special Forces, too, Max. He’s big like the five of you, capable like the five of you, and the note he left stated that I was going to be his and he would protect me and kill anyone in his way of getting to me. I left my parents, my job, my life to escape. The police can’t find him. He is looking for me, Max. I know he is, and all of this is why I can’t let down my guard and get involved with any of you, or when he does find me, he’ll kill all of you to get to me,” she said, her voice cracking before she started to cry.
He held her against his chest and consoled her.
“I’m so sorry that you went through this. That this guy ruined your life.” She wiped her eyes and pulled back.
It Takes Special Forces [Love on the Rocks 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 9
