But not even that could make him agree to what she was suggesting.
“Let me tell the world you were protecting me. Please. I can’t give you back the ten years, but let me do this for you. For us.”
“No,” he growled, not even bothering to stop long enough to think about it. “I sacrificed ten years of my life because protecting you from the weight of what would have come afterward was worth it. I couldn’t prevent the rape, but I could make it so you didn’t have to deal with reliving the experience. With explaining to your mom and Morgan what Blaine had done.”
Placing his own palms over hers, Stone drew her even closer. “Telling the truth now would make those ten years pointless. And I don’t think I could deal with that, Piper. I need them to matter.”
Piper blanched. Her shoulders heaved on a big pull of air, like she couldn’t get enough into her lungs.
“They matter,” she whispered. “To me, they always will.”
Her eyes closed, pausing for several seconds. Stone watched her gather strength. When she opened her eyes again, he could see the purpose and courage shining in them.
“I know what you did and why you did it. I was...shattered back then, although part of that was losing you. I might not have been able to handle the spectacle and trial then, but I can handle the scrutiny now. I’ve worked hard for the past ten years to find healing and peace. To find forgiveness and my own inner strength. Those ten years you sacrificed gave me that. Now I can do this. Free us. For you. For us.”
Grasping his hands, Piper squeezed hard. “Please, let me.”
Twelve
Something brushed against the back of Piper’s neck. Moist heat. Soft lips. Languid warmth melted through her body. Stone’s fingers swept down her spine before caressing across the curve of her rear.
Moonlight spilled into the room, bathing the bed in a silver glow. Neither one of them had bothered to close the blinds on the wall of windows when they’d gone to bed. Although, considering Stone had been pulling her clothes off as they went, that wasn’t necessarily a surprise.
Piper had no idea what time it was, not that it mattered. She’d fallen asleep in Stone’s arms, thinking there was no place she’d rather be. However, waking up there was ten times better. Especially with the kind of wake-up call Stone was giving her.
His hands kneaded her muscles, moving up and down her body, leaving her restless and loose at the same time. It was an unexpected sensation, made even more so when his lips joined in.
He trailed openmouthed kisses down the line of her spine. And then nipped at the flesh of her ass, drawing an unexpected gasp from her. Piper’s legs scissored restlessly against the soft sheets.
She tried to flip over, but Stone’s wide palm spread across the small of her back, holding her in place.
“Stone,” she protested.
Leaning close, he whispered in her ear, “Let me touch you. Learn you.”
How could she say no?
Letting her body sink deep into the mattress, Piper tumbled headlong into the pleasure Stone was building.
Sucking the lobe of her ear into his mouth, he tugged, creating an answering pulse between her thighs.
“Close your eyes,” he murmured.
The moment she did, every one of her other senses kicked into overdrive. The scent of him, so familiar and tantalizing, surrounded her. Pulling in a deep breath, she held it, absorbed him.
The rough pads of his fingers brushed softly across her skin. He touched and teased, exploring every inch of her body in a way that was delicious and maddening. Especially when he nudged her thighs wide and followed the crease of her ass right up to the wet heat of her sex. But didn’t actually touch where she needed him most.
The harsh sound of her own breathing echoed through Piper’s skull.
She was done playing Stone’s game.
Pushing up, she flipped over so she could see him. The intense expression on his face sent a violent shiver of need rocking through her body. The way he stared at her—as if he could see deep into her soul and connected with what he saw—made everything inside her unfurl.
No one had ever looked at her that way. Not even Stone. Until this moment, she didn’t realize it was what she’d been missing. And not just because it was obvious in that moment that she was everything that mattered to him.
But because she felt the same way about him.
It wasn’t sudden or surprising. It wasn’t just sex, although they were clearly about to share in that. What she had with Stone went far deeper and always had.
It scared her. Because losing him again would be devastating.
Needing the taste of him on her lips, Piper grasped his face and pulled him in close, whispering, “Kiss me.”
Stone didn’t disappoint, but then he rarely did. He swooped in and claimed her mouth with the same intensity that had filled his eyes. It was overwhelming and perfect. Earth-shattering and somehow calming.
Because she knew. There was no one for her, but Stone. They could spend ten more years apart and it would always be him.
Her hands raced across his body, tugging, teasing, touching. She wanted all of him. Needed all of him, right now. Desperation fueled her movements, but Stone wasn’t having any of it.
He covered her hands, slowed her. Forcing her to drink in every sensation and savor it like the wine they’d shared with dinner last night.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured against her shoulder. With lazy licks, he dragged his tongue across her collarbone, stopping to suck at the underside of her jawline.
“I know,” she panted out, her fingers still grasping at him, urging him for more.
Pulling away, Stone stared deep into her eyes and said again, “I’m not going anywhere.”
A sound hiccuped from her lungs, startling Piper. Another followed and suddenly her cheeks were wet. Stone rained soft kisses across her face, sipping at the tears as they flowed. “I should stay far away from you, Piper. I don’t deserve you in my life. But I can’t do it. I’m not a good man.”
Piper reared back and smacked her hand against his shoulder. “Stop saying that. You are.”
“You know nothing of the things I’ve done.”
“So tell me. But I promise whatever you share, it won’t change a thing.”
Stone simply shook his head. “The details aren’t important. What is, is that you make me almost believe I can be a better person.”
Piper grasped him. “You’re amazing, Stone, just the way you are.” Emotions welled inside her.
She wanted to give him the words, to voice what she knew was true deep down. But they wouldn’t come. She was still scared. Scared that something else would come and take him away.
But for now, they were both there and she was going to take the gift they’d been given.
Stone’s kisses changed. One moment they were soothing, the next demanding. And Piper met his demand. She arched into his body, relishing the way his hard muscles rubbed against her soft skin.
His fingers found the tender peak of her nipples and tugged. Gently at first, but then harder and harder until the burn of his touch wrung a gasp from her. Heat melted through her body, drawing her muscles tight in a silent demand for more. His tongue followed, a gentle lap that relieved the sharp edge he’d caused.
Rolling the tight bud, he sucked it deeply. Piper’s body arched up off the soft surface of the bed, chasing after him. The moist heat of his mouth was heaven. “More,” she demanded, although she wasn’t entirely certain what she was asking for.
Stone understood though.
His teasing fingers swept down the length of her body, caressing her stomach, thighs and hips. He found her sex, wet and pulsing with her need for him. Stone dragged his fingers through the evidence of her desire, stroking deep. Piper’s eyes closed on the sensation of bliss.
Stone teased, moving slow and driving her need steadily higher. Piper writhed beneath him.
“Please, Stone. Please. I need... I need...” She couldn’t even get the words out. Or fully form the thought.
“I know, baby,” he hummed straight into her ear.
Piper could feel her orgasm, oh, so close. With a few thrusts of her hips, she could have gone over. Wanted to. But wanted him with her more.
Grasping his hand, Piper pulled him up and over her. She spread her thighs and positioned the head of his thick sex at the entrance to her body. His gaze found hers as he thrust inside. Piper threw her head back, relishing the sensation of his hard cock stroking deep.
“Look at me,” he growled.
Piper did, locking her gaze with his. Something about the power and depth of his expression reverberated through her. He pumped, once, twice and again. Every muscle in Piper’s body went taut before the world exploded in a burst of ecstasy. Deep inside, she felt the kick of Stone’s release.
His forehead dropped to hers. Their panting breaths mingled. But he kept hold of her gaze and refused to let her go.
Piper was caught. Trapped. But nothing inside her wanted to escape. In fact, she never wanted to move from right here, his sweat-slicked body next to hers.
Obviously, that wasn’t an option.
Eventually, they’d have to move.
But for now...
* * *
Their last couple days had been blissful, full of sun and sand and sex. Lots of amazing sex. Piper’s body was sore in the best way possible and her heart was happy. For the first time in her life, she contemplated the possibility that disappearing for a while might have merit.
As long as Stone was with her.
Rolling her head to the side, she took in the sight of him wearing nothing more than swim trunks that clung to his chiseled muscles and left her body buzzing. Piper let her gaze linger, drinking him in and relishing the fact that he was hers.
Always with a sixth sense when she was looking at him, Stone pulled the sunglasses hiding his tiger’s-eye gaze down a half inch and gave her a cocky grin. “You know, you could come over here and do more than look.”
“I’m pretty sure you were the one who suggested we needed a little break from the sexcapades.”
Laughter burst out of him. “Sexcapades? Really, Doc? Is that a clinical term?”
She joined him in the laughter, letting the happiness of it bubble up inside her. “Maybe we should stay for another couple days.”
Piper didn’t understand why her words suddenly had the humor dying in his eyes. “As much as I’d love nothing better, I need to get back. I have a meeting with my parole officer, who doesn’t exactly know I’m currently out of the country.”
Jackknifing off the lounger, Piper said, “Excuse me? You didn’t tell your parole officer before leaving the country? Isn’t that a violation worthy of sending you back? How the heck did we get through border control?”
“Honey, we both know money can buy almost anything.”
Including entrance into a Caribbean island, apparently.
She was pissed. Only Stone could take her from bliss to fury in a nanosecond. “And why didn’t you mention this before?”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t be okay with it.”
“Because it isn’t okay, Stone.” Rolling up from the chair, she stalked past him. Or tried to, but he reached out and snagged her wrist, pulling until she collapsed into his lap.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“To pack, so we can leave. Call to have the jet fueled or whatever you do.”
“No.”
“It really irritates me when you say that word.”
“I’m aware.”
“And, yet, you keep saying it.”
“Because you keep suggesting things I don’t want to do.”
“Stone,” she ground out between her teeth. “Be reasonable.”
“I am,” he said, slowly letting his hand slide up the inside of her thigh.
Piper slammed her legs together, trapping him before he could distract her enough that she’d forget what they were arguing about. “Oh, no you don’t. That’s not gonna work this time, buster.”
Leaning close, he latched his teeth onto the tender part of her earlobe and tugged, murmuring, “Are you sure?”
No, no she wasn’t. But she wasn’t about to tell him that.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Piper willed herself not to succumb to his devious antics.
With a sigh, and an infuriating smile tugging at his delicious lips, Stone wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her into him. She kept herself rigid, her hard shoulder digging into his chest.
“At this point, it wouldn’t make any difference. My meeting is tomorrow afternoon. We have plenty of time to get back and we’ve been gone for days. If someone was going to come looking for me, they would have already.”
“Can’t they do random drop-ins to check on you?”
“Yes, but Gray’s had that covered. Trust me.”
Goddammit. She hated when he used logic against her. It was really infuriating, especially when he made sense. Even if she’d never agree the decision he made was right. Letting her body relax against his, Piper settled into his hold.
“You’re infuriating. And this is the kind of thing I keep talking about. You need to be up-front with me, Stone, or this isn’t going to work. No keeping important information to yourself. Even if you think it’s for my own good.”
Piper expected a protest at the very least, so she was surprised when Stone readily agreed. “I hear you. I didn’t tell you when we first left because if you’ll remember you weren’t exactly in a reasonable frame of mind.”
“For good cause.”
He shrugged. “Noted.”
Uncrossing her arms, Piper turned in his hold until she could find his mouth. The kiss was soft and easy, a connection and understanding she’d been craving for so long. A sigh escaped from her parted lips. Stone’s hand fisted into her hair, gently holding her as he explored her mouth.
The white-hot passion that had been burning between them whenever they touched wasn’t entirely gone, but in this moment it mellowed. Piper felt like she was drifting, sinking, relaxing into a warm river that she wanted to ride forever, with Stone.
She had no idea how long they kissed and touched, exploring without any pressure or purpose other than to discover the teasing touches that made each of them sigh with pleasure. But Piper was so pulled into the magic weaving between them that she wasn’t aware of Stone’s phone ringing until he pulled his mouth from her enough to answer.
“This better be important,” he growled.
Draped across his body, Piper knew before he said anything that it was. Moments before, he’d been molten steel, malleable and strong beneath her. But suddenly his entire body vibrated with tension.
His arm wrapped around her, holding her close, as he surged up. In seconds they were both on their feet, Piper tucked tight against his side. Stone’s fingers bit into her hip so hard she almost yelped, but the expression on his face kept her quiet.
“Send me the video. I’ll have Piper take a look and see if she recognizes anything.”
He nodded, as if the person on the other end of the line could see him. “No, I don’t see any reason to return tonight. We’ll be there in the morning as planned. Gray, thanks, man. I owe you one.”
Punching the end-call button, Stone tossed his phone onto the chaise beside them. Piper watched it bounce and drop precariously close to the edge before settling. He didn’t care; he was too busy glowering out at the Caribbean Sea. His jaw worked and Piper decided to just wait until he was ready to share.
It didn’t take long.
“Someone broke into your place.”
* * *
She did
n’t want to watch it, but she had to. And not just because Stone asked her to.
What Piper didn’t expect was the resurrected feeling of being violated. She was far away and safe, but watching the shadowy figure creeping through her home... Yeah, it had sent a rush of cold through her body.
“Again,” she forced herself to say.
The first time she’d simply been too stunned to concentrate on details. Squeezing her eyes tight, she tried to wade through the emotions churning inside so she could focus.
Stone clicked the play button, starting the dark, grainy video again. Piper leaned forward, squinting to try and bring things more into focus.
It didn’t really help.
The video had obviously been cut from what was most likely boring hours of absolutely nothing since she hadn’t been home in days. She almost missed the first flash of movement. It looked so much like a shadow. If she didn’t know there was nothing outside her front door that could have made the motion, she might have dismissed it completely.
“There.” She pointed to the shifting degrees of dark gray on the screen. “Whoever it is, is outside the door.”
Within seconds, her front door swung slowly in. The burglar was careful not to open it any wider than necessary. And closed it again immediately once inside.
Crouched down and hunched over, it was difficult to tell just how tall the person might be.
“Come on, stand up,” she whispered, but they definitely didn’t hear her.
They were wearing a bulky sweatshirt with a deep-cowled hood pulled so the material hung practically halfway down their face.
Piper watched, the camera on-screen switching from room to room, following the culprit. Twisting and turning, they skulked through her home like a malevolent ghost. But didn’t really stop to assess or take any of her possessions.
Because they weren’t there to steal.
“Nothing was taken,” she said. Not a question, but a certain fact.
The Rebel's Redemption Page 13
