Into the Fire (Bridge Book 2) (22 page)

Slowly I emerged from the memories that played like a bad dream behind my tired eyes.

“You’re awake.” Olivia was by my side. She put her hand in mine.

“Liv.” My voice croaked, and the sound seemed to scrape down the flesh of my throat.

She hushed me and brought a glass of water to my mouth. I tightened my lips around the pink bendy straw and sucked up the lukewarm water.

Relieved, I rested my head against the pillow with a sigh.

“How do you feel? Do you want the nurse?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Cam and Maya were just here. I can get them. They went to go call Mom and Dad. They didn’t want to talk to them until they knew how you were doing.”

I squeezed Olivia’s hand, grateful she was here. We’d never been really close, but I couldn’t imagine my life without her. And I could never shake the worry that she needed me and Cam. Mom and Dad would try to shape her future, but we’d always be there to keep her safe.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

Her eyes misted with tears. “Needless to say, we’re glad you’re here too. We got the call, and I thought the worst. I was so scared.”

I hushed her, brushing away a tear that streamed down her face. “Going to take more than a little tumble and some smoke to take me out, okay?”

The door to the room swung open, and my heart nearly stopped. All my relief and regret walked in the door with Vanessa. Her face was streaked with tears. She’d been crying. She came closer, and the door swung closed behind her.

“Darren. Oh my God.” She brought a shaky hand to her mouth.

Liv stood, wiping away her own tears as she did. “He’s going to be fine, Vanessa. He dislocated a few ribs. He broke his arm and his hand, but everything will heal in time.”

“My hand was already broken.”

Liv turned to me with a frown.

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it.” Every word was scratchy and uncomfortable.

She glanced between Vanessa and me, and with a sad smile, she let my hand go. “I’ll leave you two alone. I’m going to go check in with Cam. Just ring the nurse if you need anything, okay?”

“Thanks,” I said.

When we were alone, she came to my side. I turned my palm up, asking for her touch. She answered, taking my hand. I closed my eyes, suddenly overwhelmed with that smallest connection.

“You came.”

“Of course I came. I headed straight over as soon as Maya called me. I didn’t even think about whether you’d want me here.”

I opened my eyes, acutely aware of the pain I’d caused her and how it had plagued me too. “I always want you with me.”

She chewed on her lip, fresh tears glistening in her eyes. “I thought you wanted to take a break.”

I shook my head. “I was wrong.”

I coughed. Excruciating pain shot out from my ribs and radiated down my side. I inhaled a careful breath and rested back on the pillow. Vanessa came closer, settling on the edge of the bed beside me. Her beautiful features were pinched, and her eyes betrayed her worry.

Then suddenly I remembered the last time I’d seen her. On someone else’s arm. Smiling at a man who wasn’t me.

“Vanessa, I don’t know who that guy is.” I swallowed over the sting in my throat. “But I’m going to fight for you. I’m fighting for us. Being away from you is killing me.”

Her brow wrinkled. “What guy? What are you talking about?”

“I saw you the other night with someone. Blond hair. You were laughing and smiling with him. I wanted to kill him.”

She smiled and touched my cheek. “You’re crazy.”

“Who was he? And where does he live?”

She laughed and shook her head. “That was Michael, and he lives in Florida, so you’ve got a journey ahead of you. Also, it’s a pointless journey because he’s a relic. So far in my past, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“An ex?”

She nodded.

“Do you love him?” I braced myself for an answer that could break me more badly than my fall had.

“I used to. A long time ago. We were really young.”

I wanted her to love me. I’d felt it. I’d been so sure of it at times. But goddamn, I needed those words. After everything we’d been through, I craved them more than I could explain.

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. Her kind eyes captured me, held me in her tenderness.

“You’re the only one who has my heart, Darren.”

“How can you give me your heart me after what I did to you?”

She winced, and emotion flickered behind her pale green eyes. I’d live through another fire to take away that day and the hurt I’d put her through.

“I can give you my heart, because you keep fighting for it. And because I love you. More than you can possibly know. When I thought something had happened to you…” Her breath caught and her eyes misted with unshed tears.

“Shh,” I hushed her and squeezed her hand. “I’m good. A little banged up, but I’m good.”

“What if…”

“You got me out of there, Vanessa. Shit was not looking good, but I kept thinking about you. I knew I had to get out of there to get to you. To make things right with us. To win you back.”

Tears fell down her cheeks, and I wished I could kiss them all away. Hold her and love her. I hoped she’d give me that chance again.

“I’m never letting you go again,” I whispered.

Vanessa stood up when the nurse came in to check my vitals.

“I’m afraid we’re only allowing family visits right now, dear. He’s had a rough night. He needs to rest.”

“She is family,” I said.

Vanessa’s lips fell apart and then snapped shut again. The nurse looked to me with a raised eyebrow.

“She’s my wife.”

“Oh. My apologies, Mrs. Bridge.” She jotted something down on my chart and put it back at the foot of the bed. “Very well. I’ll be back in to check on you in an hour or so. Press the button if you need anything.” She rested her hand on my leg, one part of me that didn’t hurt a bit. “Thank you for all you do, son.” She winked at Vanessa. “He’ll be good as new in no time.”

The nurse left, and Vanessa didn’t waste a second coming back to me. I shifted to the side, wanting to make more room for her.

I hissed at the pain that lanced down my side.

“Darren. Stop it. You’re hurting yourself.”

“I’m fine.” I patted the empty sliver of bed.

She crawled up beside me, careful not to lean into me. She rested against the pillow we shared with a soft exhale. “You’re not afraid of anything, are you?”

“Only thing I’m afraid of is losing you again.”

“Then don’t let me go.”

I shook my head. “I don’t plan to. Ever.”

She leaned in to meet my lips, sealing the promise.

D
arren’s apartment
was silent save the quiet murmur of the television in his room. I crept in quietly. He was asleep, shirtless. A light blue sheet bunched at his waist. His body curved carefully on the uninjured side, and his chest moved with steady breaths—a simple motion that I knew had caused him a great deal of pain the past couple of weeks as he healed.

I moved through the room, picking up a few articles of clothing that had been thrown about and putting them in a hamper. The second I switched off the television though, he stirred.

His raspy moan was swiftly followed by a sharp intake of breath. He winced, pausing a second before moving flat onto his back.

“Baby.” He smiled when his tired gaze locked on mine.

“Go back to bed. I was just tidying up.”

“You don’t have to pick up after me.”

“I know that. But as long as you’re laid up this way, I’m going to take care of you. Like it or not.” I moved to his bedside table and began to gather up a couple of half-empty glasses.

He reached out with his uninjured arm, trying to draw me closer to him. “Stop that and come here.”

“You should rest.”

“I’ve been resting for weeks. You’re here now, and I want to spend some time with you.”

Resigned, I put down the glasses and settled beside him on the bed.

He hummed, taking his warm hand up and down my bare thigh. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, red. I never get tired of being with you.”

I glanced down at my simple outfit. A pale pink T-shirt and white shorts. My new “unemployed” uniform now that the days were getting warmer. Like summer vacation with no end in sight, at least until I found a new gig or cool weather came. Eli was helping out more with the rent, and my mom had sent me some money to help me get by while I was on the job hunt.

“Why won’t you stay over here for a while? I like waking up to you.”

“You need your rest, and I can’t sit still. I’m not used to having this much downtime. I need to keep busy, which is obviously why I’m here fussing over you when I should be letting you rest.”

“I can keep you busy,” he murmured suggestively.

I did a poor job of hiding a smile. I knew he could keep me very busy, all night every night, but he needed to heal before we did anything.

Still, I couldn’t help but drink him in. If I was a sight, he was a wonder. I looked him over, from his messy bedhead to the faint laugh lines that his dazzling smile had always rendered invisible to me. His chest was bare perfection. Weeks away from the gym were barely noticeable, and even resting, he was impressive and toned.

“See anything you like?” He shot me a grin.

“I love everything I see. You know that.”

He dragged his touch up the inside of my thigh, leading me toward a dangerous surge of sensations.

I stilled his hand before he could go any further, but he coaxed me toward him. I leaned in the rest of the way, careful not to put any pressure against his chest. My lips met his, soft and warm. I tangled my fingers through his hair and traced the strong line of his jaw over the rough hairs that had grown in. He was rugged and gorgeous, and I’d never loved him more.

“I think I have something else you might like.” He reached into a drawer in the bedside table and withdrew a small narrow box.

“What’s this?”

He placed it in my hands. “It’s for you.”

“You didn’t go out, did you?” I couldn’t help the concern lacing my tone. He was the type who’d push himself when he should be healing.

“No. Thanks to modern technology, I’m able to make romantic gestures from the convenience of home. Now open it.”

I smiled, a bubble of anticipation growing inside me. I untied the silver bow and opened the box. Inside laid a fine rose gold chain. Hanging from it was a pendant molded into the shape of a five-petal flower—a plumeria, like the one that tinted the air with its sweet scent every day we were on the island together. In the center, a diamond shone brightly.

He lifted the delicate necklace from the box, and even with his bandaged hand managed to fasten it around my neck. The flower fell cool against my chest.

I was speechless, in awe of the gesture and the memories it brought back. Those days on the island had been precious—so precious I couldn’t believe we could possibly bring such paradise home. But somehow we had.

“It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”

“Beautiful, just like you.”

“I love it.”

“Do you know what it means?” He traced the pendant with the tip of his finger.

“The plumeria?”

“Means new beginnings. The minute you came back into my world, everything started over for me. You’re the beginning of the rest of my life, Vanessa.”

I caught his hand against my heart and squeezed it tightly. “And you’re mine.”

“I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I can’t tell you how much. The man I was before I met you—that wasn’t the real me. I was trying to protect myself from the hurt I’d watched my parents inflict on each other for years. I’d completely lost faith in what love could be with the right person. I never believed I could have something like this.”

My heart ached when I thought about a younger Darren becoming so guarded with his heart over the years. I recognized a shade of that in my own journey, though, too.

“I understand. It took me a long time to know what I really wanted too. But I found it, with you.”

“I love you, Vanessa.” His eyes were dark with emotion.

“I love you too.”

“Come here,” he whispered, pulling me close.

He kissed me, long and deep sweeps of his tongue. He caressed me, over my face, down my arms, and back down to my thigh. His touch on my skin lit up like a trail of fire. A little voice in my head reminded me that we couldn’t keep going, as much as I might want to…

“We can’t. Not until you’re completely healed.”

“I can’t go without you that long. I have a feeling you can’t wait that long either.”

“Sure, I can,” I lied. My resolve withered with every passing second. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I don’t care how broken I am. Every minute inside you is pure pleasure. And that’s all I’m going to feel. I can guarantee that.”

“But the doctor…”

“The doctor says I’m clean as a whistle.” His touch slipped past the edge of my panties, grazing the sensitive skin there. “I want you bare, Vanessa.”

My breathing sped up along with my heartbeat. I wanted that too…

He’d never asked before, but the question had lingered unanswered between us. Darren’s past was plentiful, and I couldn’t take anything for granted, no matter how much I loved him. But knowing we were safe to take this next step and the thought of removing that barrier between us was intoxicating. Intimate on a whole new level.

“Come on, red. Live a little.” He palmed my breast and gave my nipple a gentle squeeze through my shirt.

The doctor wouldn’t approve of what we were about to do, but Darren didn’t give a damn. He was bad and impulsive, and I loved that about him.

Fueled with the crazy passion only he could ignite in me, I rose off the bed. “Don’t make me regret this.”

“I can promise you won’t.”

He caught his lip between his teeth as I undressed, slowly, drawing out every precious second. I pushed my panties over my hips, and they fell to the floor, leaving me naked except for his beautiful gift. My skin felt hot under his hungry gaze.

Under the sheet, he was already hard. I went to him and straddled his legs. I kissed his chest, licking lightly over the dark disks of his nipples. Then I went lower, and the sheet slipped away, revealing his beautiful thick cock.

I’d never thought the male anatomy was especially beautiful, but the prize between Darren’s legs matched the rest of his physique. Hard flesh beneath velvety soft skin, jutting out confidently from his groin. I trailed a finger down his length and softly cupped his balls. One quick glance up revealed just how wound up he already was. His eyes were dark. His jaw was set tight, and his chest heaved under shallow breaths.

I held his cock in my hand and guided the tip to my lips. There I taunted him with tiny, lazy licks around the sensitive tip, all the way down to the base and back up where I took more of him.

His eyelids fell, and a low sound rumbled from his chest.

I shifted over him, trying to take as much of his length as I could. I licked and sucked, punctuating each stroke with the blunt pressure of the back of my throat. We moaned in unison, and I reveled in his pleasure. I wanted to give him all the pleasure he’d given me so many times.

I was already wet, aching for the feel of him thick inside me. My thoughts circled around how he’d feel bare. The simple act of our bodies joining had brought me toe-curling ecstasy time and again. No one else had made love to me as he had, arresting my heart and mind as he claimed my body.

“Enough,” he rasped. “Come here.”

I let him slip from my lips and crawled up his body, praying that this was more pleasure than pain for him. He rested his wounded hand on my hip and used the other to guide his cock to my pussy. He notched there and squeezed my hip tight before pulling me down.

“Slow and deep, baby. I want to feel every beautiful inch of you coming down on me. All the way down.”

Anticipation hummed through me. I wanted to drop down and take all of him inside me. But, like him, I also wanted to treasure this new experience between us. Make it last as long as we could.

His hooded gaze was riveted where our bodies joined, his lips apart as we became one. I sheathed him completely, stretched and tight around him. His cock buried in the deepest part of me.

He licked his thumb, wetting it before bringing it to my clit and stroking gently over the taut bundle of nerves. I inhaled sharply as the sensation shot through me. I could have come right then. I pulsed around him, craving friction and release.

He gazed up at me, heat and hunger raw in those beautiful brown depths. And in that fiery warmth, I saw love. Adoration. Wonder. All the things that kindled in my heart when I was with him.

His dark olive skin tightened over his muscles, like a thin veil of control over the mass of man before me who was capable of so much strength, so much passion… Sifting his fingers through my hair, he brought me to him. Our lips melted together, soft and then rough. He nipped at my lower lip and slid his tongue over the sting. I fluttered around him, craving more of him. More sensation. More heat.

“This”—he thrust his hips up gently—“is the way it was always supposed to be. And this is how it’ll always be.”

I closed my eyes, feeling light and heavy at once.

“Now ride me, sweetheart.”

I was almost too overwhelmed in that moment to follow through on his demand, but the promise of the pleasure launched me into action. I found the edge of the headboard behind him. Using it for leverage, I rose and dropped down.

He groaned against my lips. “Fuck.”

Whether that was a compliment or an order, I had no plans to stop. I rode him, taking him deeper, over and over. Breathless, I climbed to that place where we could fall apart together.

A fever slid over my skin, radiating from my heart as it beat a wild tempo in my chest. I was slick around him, taking him to the root with ease.

His fingertips dug into my flesh, marking me with the pressure of his touch. I welcomed it. I wanted memories of this moment.

“Now hard, Vanessa.”

The reality of his injuries sobered me a moment. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

A grin curved his lips. “I promise you that in this moment I can feel no pain. Now ride me hard until I tell you to come.”

That quickly I was back in the moment, ready to fuck him breathless. My muscles trembled, but I chased the pleasure. I did what he wanted, taking him fast and hard until I was so close to the edge I could scream.

“You feel so good,” I whimpered.

His jaw was tight, an agonizing strain on his features. “Going to feel so good to come inside you, baby. But I need you first. Come for me, Vanessa. Let me feel you let go.”

His thumb came back to my clit. My head fell back with a cry. I gripped him and the friction took me over. The world went white. Shards of pleasure shot through me like flashes of lightning.

In a single moment, Darren, our pleasure, and this love overwhelmed every one of my senses. I soared, flying into a thousand pieces. He followed me, a rough cry echoing off the bedroom walls as he came.

I thought I’d be meeting Cheryl at her penthouse, but her assistant assured me that most days she could be found at one of the charity’s offices making her rounds.

The sun was out and warmed my skin as Maya walked beside me. After I explained the whole Reilly money-laundering debacle, she’d insisted on coming with me for moral support.

“I was reading up about this place online,” she said. “Seems like it’s a pretty big operation.”

“It’s been doing well. I guess despite all the things Reilly was doing wrong, between him and Cheryl, they must have done something right.”

“Hopefully it can survive when all this news comes to light.”

I had worried about the same thing. With Reilly at the wheel, the charity would survive as long as he needed a front for his creative money management. When all his wrongdoing was out in the open, the damage could be irreparable. Regardless, I had no choice. Reilly was stealing from Cheryl and the charity he touted as his most cherished cause. It had to stop.

Maya caressed the little bump that showed through her T-shirt. Suddenly she stopped short, her hand on her belly.

“Oh, wow,” she said. Her big brown eyes were wide as saucers.

I stopped. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded quickly. “I think the baby kicked.”

“Oh my God!” I squealed and might have danced in place a little.

She grabbed my hand and pressed it firmly to her belly. We stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, waiting for what felt like several minutes. We didn’t say a word. We just breathed. Then finally, the tiniest little movement fluttered under my fingers. I sucked in a breath.