Jagged Hearts (8 page)

“Were any of those people upset you were going to marry him?”

“Probably every female he met,” Paisley said with a smile. “And half the men. But enough to kill?” She shook her head again. “I can’t see it.”

“We’ll just have to keep our eyes open then. I won’t let anything happen to you again.”

“We don’t even know this person will resurface. They’ve been content to leave me alone for five years. I don’t believe for an instant they couldn’t have found me if they wanted to. Especially if Gilly is right and the attacker was a professional.”

Bare sighed. “You could be right. All this concern could be for nothing.”

“My dad will still worry,” she said.

“He will. We all will. Your dad. Tuck. Me. We all remember what you looked like in that hospital bed. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it never happens again.”

“Who did you lose?” Paisley asked softly and saw the surprise in Bare’s gaze. “Sometimes, I glimpse shadows in your eyes.”

Bare sighed. “Come here,” he said and patted his chest again.

Paisley lay back down beside him. He tugged her closer until her head lay where he wanted it, his fingers stroking through her hair. They stayed that way for a long moment, long enough for her to think he wasn’t going to share with her, but he did.

“I was married right out of high school. We’d dated since our sophomore year. Everyone expected it. She knew I planned to join the military and said she supported me. Then I had my first tour away from her. Twelve months. It was hard for both of us, but harder on her. That became our pattern. I’d volunteer for these tours—Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa. She’d become withdrawn and resentful. I wasn’t there for her.” He glanced down, and Paisley saw the hurt and pain in his eyes. “She said I loved my job more than I did her.” He blew out a long breath. “And she was right. The last time I returned, she’d started drinking. She was… God, it was awful. I called her parents, told her to go home. Then I left again. Just packed up and left her.”

“What happened?” Paisley asked.

“She was killed in a head-on collision with another car. She was the drunk driver. She killed herself and the two people in the other car, teenagers, who had their whole lives ahead of them.”

“Oh, God,” Paisley moaned, hugging herself to him. “I’m so sorry.”

His fingers tightened against her for a minute then relaxed as he continued stroking through her hair. “It took me a long time to stop blaming myself. I was a mess when Jamison and Tuck took me in. Tuck looked me right in the eyes and said I was just a body in search of a grave.” He shook his head. “Those words hit me hard. He helped me realize I had no control over what she had done or hadn’t done. Bottom line was they were her choices to make, not mine.”

“So you left the service after it happened?”

“I did. Blamed it for everything. Leaving turned out to be a good thing though. Otherwise, I’d probably have gotten myself killed and come home in a box.”

“How did you meet my dad?” Paisley asked and was relieved to see a grin tug at Bare’s mouth.

“Bar fight.”

“With my dad?”

Bare laughed. “Caught him square on the jaw when he tried to break up a fight between me and another guy.”

“Oh my God! I can’t believe you hit my dad.”

“Me, either. All I can say is I was stupid back then.”

“So what happened?”

“Next thing I knew, I had five guys on me while Jamison just rubbed his jaw and stared me down. I thought I was a dead man and didn’t even care. I think Jamison saw that in me. He turned his head and asked Tuck what he thought.”

“What did Tuck say?”

“'
He’ll do
. Just nodded and said I’d do. Asked if I had a place to stay. I think I told him to fuck off or something. Shit, I was three sheets at least by that point. Your dad told me paybacks were a bitch and punched me so hard I swear I saw stars. Woke up the next morning with a jackhammer going off behind my eyelids and a swollen jaw. Your dad packs a solid punch.”

“I’m sure he does,” Paisley agreed and shook her head. “And they took you in?”

“Just like that,” Bare said. “They saved my life that day. Gave me a new direction when I was floundering and desperate.”

“I’m glad they found you,” she whispered and turned her cheek to place a soft kiss on his chest. “Do you still blame yourself?” she asked just as quietly.

He was silent again, and she wondered if he felt the weight of that question the same way she did. Sometimes, she felt so guilty. Guilty for living when Lance hadn’t. Guilty for being unable to protect herself and her unborn child. Guilty for existing in a world where they didn’t.

“No,” Bare finally answered. He rolled so she was on her back and he rested his weight on one arm, the other reaching out to rub across the silk of her gown where it rested on her belly. “Do you blame yourself?”

“Sometimes,” she admitted.

“Ah, Paisley,” he said, moving his fingers up to trace across her cheek. “You survived, and for the past few years, that’s all you’ve done.”

“I know,” she agreed. “It’s not enough anymore. I want more. I need more.”

“You deserve more,” Bare stated. “I can’t imagine any man who loved you would want anything less for you than a life filled with love and happiness.”

She nodded, and a tear slipped down her face. He swiped it away with his thumb.

“Thanks for being here,” Paisley told him. “You’ve been a great friend even when I didn’t realize it.”

“I’ll always be your friend.”

“But you want more?” she prompted, needing him to say the words again before she took the step she contemplated.

“Yeah,” he agreed in a rough tone. “I want to be much more than friends. But I won’t rush you. I’ll be here, beside you, in any way you need me, for as long as you need me.”

“If I asked you to hold me tonight while I sleep, would you?”

“I’ll hold you and chase all the nightmares away,” he vowed.

“And this?” She moved her hand to slide her fingers along his erection.

Bare caught his breath and jerked his hips back. “You know I want you. I won’t hide it from you. Touching you, tasting your kiss. My body is going to react. I’ve wanted you for a long time. Sporting wood around you is nothing new, but I’ll survive.”

He laid back down and held his arm out to her. “Now, come here, and let me hold you while we get some sleep.”

“I’d rather you do something else,” she whispered, turning toward him. She slid to her knees, rising and shifting until she straddled his lap. There was no missing the way his eyes widened when she sat on him. She centered her heat over his shaft, enjoying the way it felt pressing against her with so little clothing between them. It took all she had not to rub against him. “Touch me, Bare. Make love to me.”

Chapter Seven

Bare gripped her hips and pressed up into her, making them both moan. One touch and his dick was ready to explode. He saw the tight points of her nipples pressing against the silk of her gown. He wanted to suck them through the material, wanted to rip off her clothes, lay her down and lick every inch of her. And he would, as soon as he could breathe again.

“Touch me,” she begged again and lifted her hands to cup her breasts, thumbs flicking over the swollen tips. “I ache.”

“Christ,” he muttered and sat up so fast she grabbed his forearms in alarm, nails sinking deep as she clung. Yeah, he wanted to feel those sharp points scratching his head while he ate her hot little pussy—soon. Then, maybe, she’d use them on his shoulders and back while he pounded his cock into her. Fuck! He had to stop thinking and start doing or this would be over far too quickly.

“Are you sure?” He forced the question up from his throat, desperately afraid she’d change her mind, despite the hunger in her eyes. Jesus, it would kill him.

She nodded. “Yes, Bare.”

She lifted up onto her knees and reached for the hem of her gown. His gaze was glued to her hands, following along as she caught the bottom and slowly slid the material up her body. He licked his lips as each inch of bare flesh was revealed. The backs of her fingers lifted her breasts and held there, only the bottom curves showing. He caught his breath and let it out in a whoosh as she jerked the gown the rest of the way up and over her head.

Perfect. She was absolutely perfect as far as he was concerned. The flare of her hips, the fullness of her breasts. Then she tossed the material aside and looked down, meeting his gaze. And that was what got him. The flames of desire ignited in her deep-green eyes.

He jerked, pinning her beneath him on the bed. She gasped, but he caught the sound with his mouth, drinking the pleasure from her lips and sharing his in return. His hands roamed, touching and exploring her body unfettered by clothing. He broke the kiss, moving his lips over her jaw and down the long length of her neck until he met her shoulder. He traced her collarbone with his tongue then ran kisses along the side of her right breast before nipping and sucking across the lower curve to the other side.

“Bare.” She moaned his name, arching her breasts up as if pleading for his touch. Who was he to deny?

He lifted his head and licked his lips as he eyed the tightly pebbled, pink nipples. With a groan, he shifted lower until he could flick his tongue over one hard point. She cried out, one hand lifting to cup the back of his head and urge him closer.

“More,” she begged.

He teased it again and again then gave in and took it between his teeth, nipping lightly before sucking it into the warmth of his mouth and plying it with his tongue. She thrashed and cried out, rubbing her body wantonly against his where he lay between her thighs. He felt the heat and moisture of her pussy against his stomach and pressed his cock against the mattress in response.

He worked his way over to the other nipple and treated it to the same lavish loving. He could spend hours worshipping at her breasts, but doubted either of them could handle that right now. The need was too strong, and they’d both waited far too long for this moment. He knew she hadn’t been with anyone else in the last five years. He wondered if she even had a clue that he hadn’t either.

He left her breasts and kissed his way over her abdomen. There were faint lines where he knew she’d felt the wicked edge of a blade that night, and he placed soft kisses on each of them. She shuddered again, and he glanced up to make sure she was okay. It was only desire he saw there and not a return to the nightmare.

He eased lower, wiggling his body until his feet and part of his calves hung off the end of the bed. He jerked the gusset of her panties aside and felt primal when he heard the material rip at his touch. Her lips were swollen, glistening with the proof of how much she wanted this, wanted him, and he leaned closer to kiss them. Both her hands buried in his hair, and her hips rose to meet him.

He gave the material another hard tug and felt it completely give on one side. He lifted his head just long enough to grasp the material on her other hip and rip it as well then he tugged the damaged lace away, tossing it over the side of the bed. He braced one arm along her stomach, using his fingers to spread her lips and reveal the hardened kernel of her clitoris. He dipped his tongue into her opening, swirling it and gathering her juice before sliding it up between her folds to circle the nub.

“Bare!” Paisley screamed his name, and it made him feel like a god. She rocked her pussy against his face, seeking more.

He didn’t intend to disappoint. He licked and sucked and worked her into a frenzy before slipping a finger into her channel and pumping it. She moaned and thrashed, chanting his name then interspersing a few “Oh, God’s” in there. She was close. He felt it in the trembling of her thighs and stomach. Heard it in the way her breathing changed, coming faster, heavier.

“Bare! I’m coming! Oh, God! I’m coming, Bare!”

He grunted against her, adding another finger and sucking her clit hard between his teeth. She bucked against his face then thrust high and held her folds pressed to him while she wailed loud enough to wake the whole fucking house. Hell, yeah! Though if Gilly, Jagger or Seth thought to bust in and interrupt them, Bare would be hard pressed not to kill them.

Her pussy clenched and rippled around his fingers, her juices spilling out. He switched fingers and mouth, lightly rubbing his thumb over her clit while his tongue pumped her channel, lapping up every bit of juice she gave. She shuddered, body shaking as she came back down. He felt her go lax and turned his face to place a sucking kiss against the inside of her thigh before painfully rising from the bed.

One hand automatically reached for his dick, gripping the shaft and squeezing to hold back the fire racing down his spine. He was so fucking hard, the tip weeping with pre-cum.

“Bare?” She called his name as he moved the few feet to reach his bag.

“Condom.” He grunted the word, unable to do anything else. Conversation was beyond him at this point. He was a grenade, pin pulled and ready to go at any moment. He’d prefer it be when he was buried balls deep in her.

He found the box, jerked it open and ripped a strand of four free. He turned and tore one off, tossing the others on the bedside table in hopes they’d be using them as well before the night ended.

“Let me,” she said, sitting up and holding out her hand for the foil package.

Fuck! His dick jerked as her long, black hair spilled over one shoulder playing peek-a-boo with her breast. A goddess. She was a fucking sex goddess, and he was the mortal who would gladly fall under her spell, facing anything that came later, just for one moment with her.

He handed the condom to her, gripping the base of his cock and shuddering as he fought to keep from spewing then and there. She smiled and leaned in, licking her lips as she eyed his cock. He jerked back.

“I’m about two seconds from going off here,” he warned. “Probably not the best time to tease me.”

“Who’s teasing?” she asked. “I want to taste you, too.”

“Fuck,” he bit out, taking back the condom and making quick work of getting it on. He turned her on the bed so she faced him then pushed her down onto her back. The mattress was high enough her hips were perfectly aligned to his in this position.