I glanced around and that’s when I spied the folded clothing on the end of the bed. Lifting the fabric, I was glad to see that someone had thought to leave Jaelyn a pair of clean scrubs. I left the top, preferring to have her in my clothes, wearing my scent, and bent to help her step into the pants.
Fucking hell. She had the most gorgeous legs. By the time I stood, the image of those stems wrapped around my waist had my dick leaking precome. And the thought of them wrapped around my head had my mouth watering.
“Let’s go, baby,” I urged as I slipped an arm around her waist and led her toward the exit. It was time to take her home.
4
Jaelyn
When we passed through the emergency room doors, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I’d only been inside the hospital for a little more than two hours, but it’d felt a lot longer. On the plus side, enough time had gone by for the shakiness I’d felt after the fire to have passed. I didn’t need help, but I liked the feel of Rand’s arm over my shoulders too much to let him know. Especially not the short distance we walked to get to the huge silver truck parked near the entrance.
Glancing at the reserved sign, I grinned up at Rand as he opened the passenger door for me. “I’m pretty sure this spot is supposed to be used for official business only.”
“True,” he conceded with a sexy smirk, humor gleaming in his green eyes. “But it’s not like any of my guys were going to rat their captain out for snagging a primo spot in the ten minutes it took me to get you.”
Everything had been so hectic after he’d carried me out of my building that I’d forgotten someone had referred to him as Captain until he reminded me just now. “Do you take advantage of the perks of being the boss often?”
“Nah, I’m usually a stickler for the rules. It’s part of why they promoted me to captain in the first place.” I let out a surprised squeak when he wrapped his large hands around my waist and lifted me onto the passenger seat. “But I had a damn good reason for breaking the rules this time.”
My brow wrinkled in confusion since it seemed he’d only come to the hospital to pick me up. “You did?”
“Of course, I did, baby. You were waiting for me.” He brushed his thumb across my cheekbone, and I would’ve sworn he was about to kiss me before he pulled away and slammed the truck door shut.
“Whoa,” I breathed, slumping against my seat. If they hadn’t checked my temperature while I was being examined, I would’ve thought I had a fever—that’s how hot and bothered Rand was able to get me with just a look and light touch of his hand on my face. The man should come with a warning label.
“Do you need help buckling up?”
“Huh?” I turned toward him as he pulled his seat belt on and realized I hadn’t put mine on yet. Yanking on it, I shook my head. “Nope, I have it.”
“I’m a good driver, and my truck is one of the safest on the road”—he squeezed my thigh before starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot—“but no way in hell would I ever do anything that puts you at risk.”
Up until Kaia met Ewan, I’d thought guys like him—strong alphas with a heart of gold—were a thing of the past. But I was starting to think that maybe I’d stumbled onto one of my own—quite literally—considering how he’d saved me from falling down the stairs. It was a meet cute straight out of a romantic comedy on the big screen.
When Rand turned onto the highway, I pointed toward the back of the truck. “You took the wrong entrance. I live that way.”
“I know.” He reached out to thread his fingers through mine. “But you can’t go back to your place yet.”
My brow wrinkled in confusion. “But I could swear you said you were taking me home?”
“To my home, baby. Your building hasn’t been cleared for residents to go back in yet,” he explained.
I slumped in my seat, holding his hand as though it was a lifeline. Between being poked and prodded and getting frustrated by how long it had taken to be discharged from the hospital, I hadn’t stopped to think about how bad the damage to my apartment might have been. “You guys got there so fast, I was hoping I’d just need to open my windows and get some special fans or something to take care of the water used to put out the fire and to help with the smoke smell.”
He gave my hand a comforting squeeze. “I’m sorry to be the one to break the news, but it’s not going to be that simple. The structure’s intact, but the smoke damage is extensive enough that your landlord is going to need to hire a restoration company to handle the bulk of the clean-up efforts.”
“Crap,” I muttered, turning to look out the passenger window when I felt tears well in my eyes. “I better call my sister.”
“You can call from my place,” Rand offered. “We’re almost there.”
I wasn’t looking forward to how that conversation would go. Kaia was going to be pissed that I didn’t tell her about the fire right away. Ewan wouldn’t be happy, either. He took his role as my brother-in-law pretty seriously, which made me remember what Tyler had said in the ambulance. “We almost met a couple of days ago when you pitched a softball game against Ewan Kelley’s team. He just got married to my sister last month.”
“Yeah, I know. Ever since I spotted you in the stands with your sister, I’ve been kicking my ass for not switching up the schedule, so I could’ve made the wedding,” he admitted. “I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed seeing you all dressed up.”
“If it wasn’t destroyed, maybe you’ll get the chance to see me in what I wore. Since I was the only person in her bridal party, Kaia let me pick out what I wanted so it’s not your typical bridesmaid dress. I actually looked pretty good in it.” My tears were forgotten as my lips curved up in a small grin.
“I’m sure you looked fan-fucking-tastic.” His thumb brushed back and forth across my palm. “No matter what you were wearing.”
Shifting in my seat, I turned in his direction again. “This is probably going to sound crazy, but Ewan didn’t warn you off me or anything like that, did he?”
“Damn straight he did,” Rand chuckled as he exited the highway. “You disappeared after the game, and the bastard wouldn’t tell me a damn thing about you except that you’re too young for me, and I needed to forget all about you.”
“Too young?” I snorted, shaking my head. “It’s not like I’m fresh out of high school or anything. I’m a twenty-two-year-old college grad. And Ewan is one to talk when he’s eight years older than my sister.”
Rand shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t think he cared what excuses he threw my way as long as they worked.”
“And did they?” Tilting my head, I peeked up at him. “Work, that is?”
“Not a chance in hell.” He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm. “Your sister dropped enough hints for me to figure out who you were, and Tyler told me your name this morning before the call came in for the fire at your building. If I hadn’t already found you, I would’ve gone looking after my shift was over today.”
“Well, okay then. I guess the fire wasn’t entirely the disaster I thought it was if it brought you straight to my door.” I sighed, thinking about all the stuff I was going to need to deal with in the near future. “And at least I have renter’s insurance. It’ll cover anything I need to replace, and I think the relocation coverage even includes hotel stays so at least I won’t be forced to stay with Kaia and Ewan.”
I loved my sister and her husband, but having me under their roof would definitively put a damper on the newlyweds’ sex life. Just thinking about what I might end up hearing made me gag a little.
“It doesn’t matter if your insurance covers a hotel room or not, you won’t need one,” Rand announced as he pulled into the driveaway of a two-story brick house.
“Why not?”
He waited until he’d parked the truck in the garage and killed the engine to turn to me and answer. “Because you’ll be staying here with me.”
5
Rand
“I a
m?” Jaelyn’s voice contained an array of emotions, but the one I latched onto was the sliver of hope.
I squeezed her hand lightly and pulled her in close until we were barely a hairsbreadth apart. “You are,” I confirmed before I completely closed the gap and covered her mouth with my own.
My eyes slid shut, and I groaned as I savored her sweet taste. It was like peaches and sunshine mixed with something that I instinctively knew was all her own. I was lost. I knew I would crave more and more and probably never get enough. My free hand delved into her thick hair, and I gently grasped it in my fist, using the leverage to tilt her head and give me better access.
Jaelyn sighed and melted into me, opening immediately when I ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, asking for entry. I plunged my tongue inside her mouth and slid it along hers. When she tentatively responded in kind, lust slammed into me so hard it almost knocked the wind out of me.
My cock was pulsing in unison with my pounding heart beats and painfully fighting my zipper for freedom. Jaelyn started to kiss me back with wild abandon, holding nothing back. It was the most refreshing and alluring thing I’d ever experienced.
If I didn’t stop now, I was going to fuck her right there in the front seat of my truck. Only the sure knowledge that Jaelyn was special, that she meant more to me than anyone ever had, gave me the strength to tear myself away from her.
Her lips were swollen and slightly reddened from my whiskers. She looked like she belonged to somebody, and since that somebody was me, it certainly didn’t aid my attempt to cool the raging fire inside me.
She whimpered and pressed herself against me. Her arms had wound around my neck, and she tried to urge my head back down for another kiss.
I gave her a quick peck, and when I pulled back, she had a cute pout on her lips. To my surprise, not a minute later, she began to look worried. “Did I do something wrong?”
Releasing her hand and hair, I cupped her face and stared into her warm brown eyes so she would have no doubt of my sincerity. “Absolutely not, baby. You were perfect.”
Twin spots of pink bloomed on her cheeks, and she looked away shyly. “Then…um…why did you stop?”
I couldn’t help grinning at the wild cat who’d suddenly become a docile little kitten. “Because I want to get you settled, and we both need food. Something to give us strength and stamina.” I winked and grinned at the return of her blush.
“Wait here,” I told her before placing a quick kiss on the tip of her nose and then exiting the truck. I walked around to her side and opened the door. She’d already unbuckled, so I slid an arm around her waist and lifted her out. I held her pressed against me for a few moments, then slowly lowered her feet to the ground, keeping our bodies in contact the entire way.
Jaelyn gasped when she realized what the hard ridge pushing against her was, and I gazed down at her with hooded eyes. “That’s what you do to me, baby.”
I loved the way she displayed her every emotion on her face. At first, she looked shy, then intrigued, but the third one was what put a smirk on my lips. She seemed to grow more confident right before my eyes, and her smile turned a little wicked. Fucking hell…I didn’t think she could get any sexier.
Taking a deep breath, I told myself to calm down as I threw an arm over her shoulders and guided her toward the front door. Once it swung open and Jaelyn stepped inside, she stopped and looked around with wonder. I watched her carefully, gauging her true reaction to my home. I loved my house and hoped it would be our home, but if she didn’t like it, I’d call a realtor in the morning. However, her eyes were dancing with delight, and she wore a beautiful smile.
It was a modest house but still spacious and roomy with a big backyard. Perfect for a family. I’d bought it as an investment opportunity. I didn’t much care where I lived, but it was smarter to own than rent. Once I moved in, though, I fell in love with the place, and it made me even more confident that Jaelyn was the one for me when I watched her instantly fall in love with it as well.
“I love this house,” she gushed as she walked into the living room that opened up to the rest of the house. “It’s so warm and homey.”
I walked up behind her and slipped my arms around her middle, cuddling her close and resting my chin on the top of her head. “It needs a woman’s touch,” I murmured.
My hands splayed across her belly, and I bent my head, angling it so I could reach her ear before whispering, “It would look even better with a toy chest by that window.” I pointed at the spot, then returned my hand to her stomach. “And maybe a cradle in that corner.” I buried my face in her hair and exhaled harshly. Just the thought of getting her pregnant had me ready to explode.
Jaelyn’s breathing had sped up, but when I fisted my hands in her shirt and rocked my pelvis forward, pushing my huge erection into her lush ass, she stopped breathing altogether. I knew I was coming on strong, but it was almost impossible for me to go slow now that I’d found Jaelyn. Still, I decided to give her some time before throwing any more at her.
Turning us around, I let her go, giving her a swat on her ass to get her moving in the direction of the kitchen. “What would you like to eat, baby?”
She slowly rotated her head until she was looking back at me over her shoulder. Her expression was dry, and she had one eyebrow arched as if to say, “Seriously? What do you think I want to eat?”
I fucking lost it. I roared with laughter until I actually felt tears leak from the corners of my eyes. Jaelyn giggled right along with me, and when I could finally catch my breath, I tugged on her top and yanked her into my arms. “You are so fucking perfect, baby,” I told her with a giant smile. She beamed at me, and I couldn’t help stealing another kiss. “I’m warning you right now, Jaelyn,” I murmured against her lips. “I’m keeping you.” One more kiss. “You are mine.”
She looked a little dazed, and before she had a chance to react, I scooped her into my arms and walked the rest of the distance to the kitchen where I set her down on a stool at the center island. “How about Chinese, baby?”
“What?” she asked absently, making me chuckle.
“Chinese?”
“Oh! Yes, sure. I love Chinese.”
I opened a drawer, took out a menu, and handed it to her. She picked a few things, and I called to put in the order.
We had about thirty minutes before the food would arrive, and I figured Jaelyn would probably like a chance to shower and put on some clean clothes. I came to stand in front of her and wedged myself between her legs. My hands delved into her hair and massaged her scalp. She closed her eyes with a blissful expression. I could easily imagine seeing that look on her face when I made her come.
“Would you like to take a shower, baby?” I offered softly. A slow smile spread across Jaelyn’s face, and she winked at me, making me chuckle again. “Patience, Jaelyn.” I honestly couldn’t believe I was saying this to her, but I wasn’t going to be rushed. I slid my hands up her thighs to encircle her waist. “Once I get you naked, I’m going to want to take my time and worship every inch of your gorgeous body.”
Jaelyn shivered, and I swallowed hard, lecturing my cock and telling him to calm the fuck down. “Now, I’m going to show you where everything is, and then I’ll handle dinner.” I raised her up from the stool, brushed my lips across hers and set her on her feet. Lacing our fingers together, I gave her hand a small squeeze as I led her down a hallway to the master suite.
When we reached the bathroom, I left her by the door to start the shower. I turned on the towel warmer and then walked over to her. I kissed the top of her head as I slid by her and out into the bedroom. “I’ll leave something for you to wear on the bed, baby. Meet me back in the kitchen when you’re done.”
“Thanks, Rand,” Jaelyn said softly, giving me a beautiful smile.
“Anything for you, baby.”
I was setting out two plates and silverware when the doorbell rang. Grabbing my wallet, I jogged to the front door and swung it open. A teenage boy w
ith an insolent expression stood there holding out a bag. I took it and handed him some cash. He reached for it but stopped suddenly and craned his neck to stare at something over my shoulder. His eyes grew wide, and his jaw dropped. I turned to follow his line of sight and sucked in a deep breath. Jaelyn was standing at the island in the kitchen. Her face was scrubbed clean, her hair was damp and drying into wild curls. She was wearing one of my T-shirts, and it was so big it slipped off one shoulder. She’d twisted and knotted it at her stomach. A pair of my boxers were rolled at the waist to hold them up on her slim hips, and it made her legs look a mile long. Even her bare feet looked fucking sexy.
My body lit up like the Fourth of July, and my cock jumped to attention. Everything but my girl faded away until I heard a slow whistle. Passion turned to possession in an instant. I spun around to face the little shit, and something in my expression must have made it very clear that his life was in imminent danger. He mumbled an apology and stumbled over his own feet as he ran away without taking the money.
I watched him go, silently fuming and talking myself out of going after him to make sure the kid never ogled what didn’t belong to him ever again.
Finally, I felt in control enough to step back into the house and slam the door shut. I prowled toward Jaelyn, my eyes raking over her body once again. When I reached the kitchen, I tossed the bag of food in the fridge, then altered my path so I ended up standing toe to toe with her.
“Baby,” I growled, “if you ever let another man see what’s for my eyes only, you won’t be able to sit down for a week. You are mine, and I don’t share.”
6
Jaelyn
“I—You—What?” I stammered, unsure exactly how I wanted to respond. I should’ve been appalled at the idea of Rand threatening to spank me, let alone hard enough that I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week, but a part of me was thrilled that he was so possessive of me that he couldn’t stand the way the delivery boy had been eyeing me.
Alpha Heroes Page 8
