Jagged Hearts (13 page)

“Bare, please,” she cried. “I need you. Faster. God, please faster.”

He jerked again, his cock burying impossibly deeper. He did something with his hips that had her crying out as pleasure shot through her womb to ignite her clit. Then he began a pounding pace that had her screaming his name as she flew higher and higher toward orgasm.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Bare slurred.

“Yes!” Paisley screamed and came with a hard clench around his pistoning cock. Her breath caught in her throat, and bright lights exploded behind her tightly shut eyes. Her body tingled from head to toe, and she curled her legs up behind Bare’s, her feet pressing against the curve of his ass as she urged him to join in her orgasm.

His motions became jerky again.

“Fuck,” Bare swore. “No condom.”

“No,” she said as she felt him pull out. “Inside me,” she pleaded. “I’m clean and… I can’t get pregnant.”

He stilled inside her, his cock pressing deep as he dropped against her until his lips brushed hers. “I swear to God I’m clean. I haven’t been with anyone in over five years.”

She turned her head, meeting his eyes, and was helpless to hold in the tears. “I don’t deserve you, Barrett Locke, but I’m so glad I have you.”

“I love you, Paisley. I have for a long time.”

He took her mouth in a soft kiss. One hand cradled her hip, and he moved inside her again. This time, she cherished the slow, easy pace he set. Frantic energy was replaced with something deeper, something that overflowed her heart and made it feel full. They caught their breaths together. Bare surrounded her, and she damned the clothes she still wore that separated their skin.

“I need to see you,” she whispered. “I need to feel you, all of you.”

He groaned before pulling free of her. “Hurry,” he ordered as they moved, but she already was.

Clothes flew around the room as they both completely disrobed. He took a step toward her, and she launched herself at him. Her back met the wall this time as he lifted her until his cock nudged her slick sex and slid back inside.

She clenched her fingers into his hair and met his mouth with hers. His hands cupped her ass, squeezing her rear cheeks as he held her up for his thrusts.

“Bare.” She moaned his name when he left her mouth to trail sucking kisses down her neck.

“Hold on,” he said.

She wasn’t sure how he managed it, but he maneuvered them from the wall to the bed without dislodging where they joined. Then he was over her, his chest brushing hers as he rode between her thighs. Each rasp of his coarse chest hair against her nipples sent a wave of electricity traveling from the twin points down to her swollen clit.

“Bare,” she whispered his name on an exhale.

His gaze met hers, and the words of love he’d spoken were reflected there. Once again, she was hit with just how lucky she was. She wanted to give the words back to him, but it was too soon for them. Still, there was something she could give him, something she knew for certain.

“I’m falling in love with you,” she whispered.

His lips tugged up at both corners. “Baby, you don’t stand a chance,” he warned. “When I start pouring on the charm, you’re going to fall so hard for me, you’ll beg me to tie you to my bed and keep you there forever.”

She laughed. “Your charm’s that good, huh?”

“Just wait for it,” he crooned and slid his hand up from her hip to slip across her stomach then dip down to find her clit with his thumb.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she moaned and gave in to the pleasure he gave her. Another orgasm washed through her, and he buried his head in her neck as he joined her. She felt his cum fill her, and it sent off an explosion of tremors through her channel. She rippled and clenched around him.

As the room slowly came back into focus, she shook her head. “I swear I hear bells.”

Bare chuckled. “I’d like to take credit for it, but I’m pretty sure that’s the door.”

“The door?”

He grinned down at her. “Dinner’s here. I’d better snag my pants and grab it before they leave, or we’ll have to put on clothes and venture out for dinner.”

She shoved against his chest. “Go. I plan to stay naked and in your bed for the rest of the night.”

“Night, hell,” he said as he lifted off her and stood. “I plan to keep you there permanently.”

She laughed, enjoying the view as he grabbed his jeans and pulled them up, tucking himself inside before pulling the zipper up but leaving the button undone. “I like the way you think,” she murmured.

“Don’t lie,” he admonished. “You like everything about me.”

He winked at her before leaving the room. She lay back on the bed. Even a week ago, she wouldn’t have imagined being this happy. Part of her felt as if she needed to take a deep breath, but there was a bigger part of her screaming to remember how short life could be. Things happened in an instant that took away all the tomorrows. Slowing down might seem like the wise choice for some, but not for those like her who’d already experienced the loss of tomorrow firsthand.

“If you’re hungry, you’d better get your sweet ass out here,” Bare yelled from the other room.

She laughed again as she sat up and fished his T-shirt from the floor then pulled it over her head. She had a feeling her relationship with Bare would be a lot like the sex they’d shared. She’d be the one begging him to go faster.

Chapter Twelve

Paisley spent the weekend with Bare. They rarely left the house, which was fine with her, and by the time Monday morning rolled around, she’d tasted and felt his charm firsthand. She was such a goner. The man was impossible to resist, even when he was autocratic and commanding.

“Paisley! Get your ass moving. I need to be at the office in fifteen minutes.”

She glanced in the mirror at her sopping-wet hair and knew there was no way. She grabbed the towel she’d been using to dry it and headed into the bedroom.

“There’s no way I’m going in like this,” she said.

He glanced up from his phone to skim his gaze over her. “You look fine,” he stated.

Paisley bit her lips to hold back a smile as she walked over to him. “Really. Do you think Jagger will like this robe as much as you do?”

“Jagger? What?” Bare’s head came back up, and she twirled around for him. He heaved a sigh. “I’ve got an important meeting this morning, baby. Can’t pass this one off to anyone else. Just throw on some clothes. You’re always beautiful.”

“How long’s the meeting?”

He glanced back at his phone. “It’ll probably take the better part of two hours to get everything planned.”

“So leave me here to finish getting ready then come back for me. I’ll even make the bed for you.”

“I’d rather tumble you back into it,” he said, finally dropping his phone and moving into her.

“That would really make you late,” she warned, leaning up to nip his jaw with her teeth.

“I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone,” Bare said.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here, waiting for you.” She kissed him where she’d nipped him. “I’m pretty sure you’re down to ten minutes.”

“Damn it,” he muttered as he glanced at his phone again. “Don’t go anywhere. I swear to God, Paisley, I’ll spank your ass if you set foot from this house alone.”

“Are you trying to get me to stay? Or leave?”

He swatted her on the butt and dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Spanking, huh?”

“There are a bunch of things I wouldn’t mind trying with you,” she admitted.

“Jesus,” he grunted and reached down to adjust his erection. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He hauled her up on her toes and kissed her in that way of his that had her toes curling and her heart racing. He released her and ran a finger down the gap in the top of her robe. “Maybe, you should just keep this on.”

She laughed. “I’ll think about it.”

He dropped another kiss, this one just a quick slide of lips before grabbing his keys from the dresser and heading out. She followed him to the door. He paused again to kiss her.

“You’re going to be late,” she warned when he still seemed reluctant to leave her. “I’ll be okay.”

He nodded and without saying another word, turned and walked away. She watched until he got to his truck then she shut the door and locked it. She headed back to the bedroom and rummaged through her bag for fresh clothes. She’d throw in some laundry before Bare came back. She’d eventually need to pick up more clothes from the house. Funny, she had no desire to go back to the home that had been her refuge for the last five years.

She made the bed and laid out her clothes on it then gathered her dirty stuff and the few of Bare’s he’d left in the room. She carried them through the kitchen to his laundry room. After that, she went back into his bathroom and put on a minimum of makeup. She didn’t have a blow dryer. Marco hadn’t thought to pack hers. Gilly had kept one under the bathroom sink at his house, but Bare didn’t, so she pulled a rubber band from the bottom of her cosmetic bag and braided her hair back.

With that done, she straightened the rest of his bedroom then moved out to do the rest of the house. He was actually pretty neat and tidy, a trait he’d said he’d picked up in the military. It didn’t take her long, and other than a few dishes from breakfast, there was nothing to do in the kitchen either.

She found herself slipping into Bare’s office to see if he had a notebook she could use to journal. She really wanted to get her thoughts about the last few days on paper, especially since she’d made the bold statement she was going to write a book.

The idea had been brewing for a while now. It would be a chance for her to share hers and Lance’s story, the real story, not the one shared in the dozens of unauthorized biographies that had been released in the last five years. She’d briefly mentioned the idea when she’d spoken to Andromeda, and the other woman had loved it. It felt like a fitting way to say one final goodbye to Lance, to let the world see the man behind the name.

She didn’t see anything lying out in Bare’s office and wasn’t comfortable going through his stuff to search. She’d just have to wait until he came to get her then have him stop somewhere along the way to grab one. Instead, she headed back out to the front room and turned on the television. She was flipping through the channels when her mother’s picture appeared on the screen and caught her attention.

Still no word on the mother of actress, Paisley Ames. Vivian Ames was injured in a car wreck yesterday in Oklahoma. Though we have it on good authority she was treated and released, we’ve been unable to obtain a statement. Surprisingly, she has refused all inquiries by local media. Or perhaps not so surprising after her daughter’s press conference a few days ago where the former Hollywood sweetheart warned the press away from her mother.

Paisley muted the television and dialed Bare. The call went straight to his voicemail. She tried her dad next and got the same. Normally, she’d call Tuck next, but with his gunshot wound, she wasn’t going to bother him. Guilt ate at her, and she did the one thing she’d sworn she wouldn’t. She called her mother. A man’s voice answered the phone, one Paisley didn’t recognize.

“Good morning, Ms. Ames,” he said. “I’m afraid your mother can’t come to the phone right now. She’s resting.”

“How is she?” Paisley asked.

“She was injured in a car wreck. Usually, she would have stayed in the hospital, but the press found out rather quickly, and she knew how much you didn’t want her near the media.” There was censure in the stranger’s voice, as if he blamed her.

“Is she okay?” Paisley asked, more guilt eating at her.

“Ms. Ames will recover. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to give her another dose of pain medication.”

Paisley sighed. “Where is she staying?”

“I believe you made your wishes not to be associated with her crystal clear to the entire world,” he said.

“I’d still like to check on her.”

“I’d say you’ve done enough.” The phone clicked in her ear.

She set down her phone and unmuted the television. When the newscaster didn’t say anything else, she switched to another channel and wanted to kick her own ass when she couldn’t find anything else mentioned. She turned to her phone and did a Google search on her mother, coming up with an article about Vivian’s arrival in Oklahoma, along with the house she’d rented.

She tried Bare again. When there was still no answer, she left a message telling him where she was going then she called a cab. She wasn’t ready to bury the hatchet with her mom, but she wasn’t vengeful enough to want her mother to refuse needed medical treatment because of what Paisley had said.

She stood at the door and waited, running out to meet the taxi as soon as it pulled up. She gave him the address then sat back to check her phone again. She knew Knight’s Watch often took on high profile clients when they were in the area. Bare had told her he expected to be in the meeting for a couple hours, which meant he should be getting back with her within the next half hour. She had to admit she was surprised he hadn’t answered or called her back already. It wasn’t like him.

The cab dropped her off at the house her mother had rented. She paid and asked him to wait while she made sure she had the right place. A man answered on the third knock, and as soon a he spoke, she knew she was in the right place.

“I told you you’ve done enough,” he said, barring her entry into the house.

“I’m here to check on my mother,” Paisley said. “I’m not leaving until I do.”

He glared at her and finally moved aside. He made a motion with his hand, and she turned in time to see the cab pull away. It looked as if he wasn’t going to rush her away. She preceded him into the house and glanced around. Her mother wasn’t anywhere she could see.

“Where’s my mother?”

She turned and found the man standing closer than she’d expected. She took a step back, finally focusing on him. There was something about him, something that sent unease trickling along her spine. Her phone rang, and he snapped his hand up, pointing a gun at her chest.

“Put the phone down,” he commanded, and she caught her breath as she looked him in the eyes. Black. They were black pools that took her back to a night five years ago when he’d loomed over her with a bloody knife in his hand.