Scorch (The MacKenzie Family Book 17) (12 page)

He dropped his hands to his sides and lowered his head, so their mouths were close to touching. She could feel the heat from his body, the warmth of his breath as it feathered across her lips. Her breasts were heavy, and she’d had about all the foreplay she could stand over the last couple of weeks.

“Tell me straight out,” she said, bringing her hands up so they rested softly at his waist, her fingers toying with the elastic band of his shorts. She was no shrinking violet and would give as much as she got. “What do you want from me, Shane?”

His growl was low in his throat and he leaned closer to nip at her bottom lip, sending a bolt of lightning straight through her. “I want from you what I’ve wanted from the first second I saw you, and your sorceress eyes captivated me.”

This time it was she who nipped at his lips, and she loved the way he growled at her aggression. “I thought you liked women with a little meat on their bones,” she taunted.

“I just said that because you were driving me crazy. My cock has been hard since I met you.”

“I’ve noticed.” She’d never given much thought to her body until Shane had said that that day. She’d always been small—petite—as her mother liked to say. But she was built like an athlete, no hips and barely a B-cup to speak much of, and she was lean with muscle.

Enough thinking. She decided to take matters into her own hands and pulled the thin tank top over her head so she stood only in her panties.

He groaned as he stared at her, and then grabbed her by the hips and lifted her so his cock was wedged against her clit. His strength was unbelievable as he held her, balancing them both, and then his head lowered and he took a nipple into his mouth and she lost her mind with the pleasure.

His hands palmed her ass as her hands tangled in his hair. Before she knew it, he’d released her breast and set her back on the floor. His blue eyes were wild with passion and a light sheen of sweat covered his skin. He pushed down his gym shorts, and she couldn’t help but lick her lips. His cock was fucking beautiful. That’s the only way she could think to describe it. And it was about to be hers. Thick and hard it rested against his thigh, and she knew he’d be a tight, marvelous fit.

“I really love your ass,” he said. “Watching you bend over has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life so far. It’s so round. Fits perfectly in my hands.”

“I’m glad the squats have finally paid off,” she panted.

There was a wooden chair next to a small round table just behind him, and he maneuvered so he sat in the chair. He took his cock in hand and held it tight and stared at her out of eyes so hot with need they almost scorched her.

She put her thumbs at the edge of the plain cotton underwear she wore and pushed them down so they fell to her ankles. And then she stood completely naked before him and let him look his fill.

“Tell me,” she said, moving toward him. “What were you thinking about that day I caught you in the shower?”

“
This
,” he rasped. “With you.”

“Tell me,” she said.

“I imagined you kneeling in front of me, my hand in your hair as you sucked my cock.”

“Hmm.” She moved between his open thighs and knelt in front of him on the floor. “Like this?” she asked.

“Almost,” he said, his full, seductive mouth curling in a smile. “Almost, baby.”

She smiled back and her hands went to his thighs, her nails biting into his flesh. And then she leaned forward and her tongue traced the underside of his cock.

“Oh sweet Jesus,” he said, throwing back his head.

And then her mouth opened wide and she took him down, tasting the salty pre-cum that had gathered at the head of his cock. Her mouth was stretched to the limit, and she used her tongue and saliva to take as much of him as she could. And then she started the process over again, eventually taking him all the way to the root.

His hand was tangled in her hair and his hips flexed as he fucked her mouth in time with her own movements. And then she pulled back with a soft, wet
pop
and said, “Then what happened?” Her voice was husky, lower than usual, and her tongue nipped back for a quick lick of his cream. “Is that how you came in your fantasy? Did I swallow every drop of you? Did you come on my breasts? Tell me,” she demanded.

Her pussy was throbbing and soaking wet, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she was coming herself.

He tugged at her hair and she took the hint and stood up. “Then you rode me,” he said, pulling her toward him.

“Oh did I?” she asked, brow arched. “There are all kinds of rides, now aren’t there?”

His nostrils flared and his eyes dilated so they looked black. “What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t want you to think you know what’s coming because of your little shower fantasy. I like to be more unpredictable than that.”

“You’re anything but predictable, baby. Who would have thought there was so much kink under those no-nonsense scrubs?”

She smiled and trailed her finger across his skin as she circled to the back of him. And then before he knew it she’d put her foot on the back rung and tilted the chair so he was on his back.

He rolled to the side and she kicked the chair out of the way, knocking it into the table and bringing the small vase of flowers on it crashing to the floor. And then they were on each other like animals, rolling and pulling sheets and anything else that got in their way into a tangle on the floor.

His fingers bit into her hips and his mouth latched onto her breast and she threw her head back, letting out a long low moan at the liquid tugs that she felt directly in her clit. She felt the head of his cock probe her opening, but maneuvered out of the way and laughed as he cursed her.

“I told you there’s more than one way to ride,” she said, crawling up his body so her knees were planted on his shoulders.

“So I see,” he said, and his hands grabbed her ass and pulled her forward, so her pussy rested just above his mouth. And then his tongue did something miraculous and she lost all sense of equilibrium. Her head fell forward and her hips slid back and forth as his mouth destroyed her, his tongue flicking over her clit with each pass until her back bowed and the white-hot light of orgasm ripped through her.

Lacey cried out as her body shook, and she didn’t notice as he flipped their positions again and she was on her back, the fallen bed sheets a tangle beneath her. He didn’t give her a chance to recover. Her pussy was still throbbing, still spasming as he began pushing inside her.

“Christ, you’re so tight,” he said, sweat gathering on his brow at the strain of holding back.

She brought her knees up so they were at her shoulders and entry would be easier, and then finally he was all the way inside. She was full—had never been so full in her life—and they lay there for a moment, adjusting to each other as their hearts banged in their chests.

And then Shane started to move and her eyes rolled back in her head. Her moans grew louder and things crashed around them as her hands reached out for something solid to hold onto. He was relentless and his stare was intense as he looked into her eyes, pushing her higher and higher with every thrust.

“Shane,” she screamed, as her pussy clamped around him like a vise. Her body felt liquid from the inside out. Her nails dug into his shoulders and her heels pressed against his flanks. She felt his cock get impossibly harder—bigger—and he called out her name before taking her mouth in a searing hot kiss and emptying himself into her.

She was too exhausted and weak to move, but all she could think was that she couldn’t wait to do it again.

* * *

“
A
re
you going to tell me about it?” Shane asked later, trailing his finger down her spine and enjoying the way she arched into him. They’d somehow made it to the bed after another bout on the floor, but the covers were long gone. His body heat was keeping her warm.

“Fourteen is a critical age for girls. Everything is a life or death situation. Every feeling is intensified a thousand-fold as you’re right on that cusp between still being a child but so close to being an adult.”

“And when you were fourteen, you hadn’t been a child in a long time.”

She let out a long breath of relief that she didn’t have to explain it to him. The pressure. The coldness from her parents. That she might has well have been bred and born in a lab somewhere. Even animals had greater affection for their young than her parents had for her.

“It was a long time ago, and thank God someone found me. It was a regrettable decision made in an instant. What seems hopeless in one single moment will never stay hopeless for long. Our minds, and surroundings, and circumstances are always evolving. Every day brings new possibilities.”

“That seems rather philosophical for a hardcore scientist like yourself.”

“Not philosophical,” she said. “But as I see it, there are seven billion people in this world. To think that any life is without purpose or worth is absurd. We all come from various backgrounds. Advantages and disadvantages. Somewhere there’s an impoverished child who holds the cure for cancer. An abused woman who will start a shelter and save hundreds of lives. It’s how we learn from the life we’re given and what we do with it that matters.”

“I’m not too keen on thinking what life would be like if you’d been successful at your attempt,” he said.

“Four years later, I was enlisted and on the battlefield. The years of classroom training, learning the languages…it all helped me save lives. And I realized very quickly after the first time I kept a man from bleeding out that if I’d been successful in my attempt, there might have been other medics with Private Gordon, but they might not have been as good as I was, and he might have died that day.

“The legacy lives on much longer than what we see. It’s just the click of a camera button. An instant photograph of time that can affect everything or nothing. Private Gordon was honorably discharged soon after that, and made a full recovery back in New York where he was from. He married his high school sweetheart, and became a firefighter in a small firehouse in Greenwich Village. He and the others from his house saved more than fifty lives when the towers fell on 9/11. He never made it back home to his sweetheart.”

His arm tightened around her and he held her close, but he didn’t say anything.

“Think of how many lives you’ve saved,” she told him. “How many catastrophes that were averted because of you, and how much evil has been destroyed. Those characteristics are intrinsic to your nature. They’ll always be there. There will be more lives you’ll save. More evil you’ll stop, and more catastrophes that you’ll avert in this next phase of your life. You might have easily been killed during that explosion. You died twice and were brought back by modern medicine. That seems a very strong indicator to me that there will be greatness from you down the road.”

Her eyes fluttered closed and she stifled a yawn. And just as she was drifting off she thought she heard him say, “This moment right here is pretty great.” And then he kissed her softly on top of the head.

L
acey’s eyes
opened as the sun was rising, just like they did every morning. Only this morning an arm was wrapped tightly around her waist and an erection was pressing rather insistently against her bottom.

“Well, good morning,” she said and smiled as he chuckled in her ear.

And then he lifted her leg and probed against her, her morning wetness making the intrusion easier. She was sore, but in a good way. And she moved against him as he loved her slowly, his mouth and teeth nibbling her neck and ears, and his fingers tweaking her nipples before making their way to her clit.

He’d touched every part of her during the night. Invaded her mind, body, and soul. And there was no turning back now. She’d let him breach her walls. She was well and truly in love with Shane MacKenzie.

“You’ve made me insatiable,” he growled in her ear. “I keep thinking each time will have to be the last so we can rest, but I touch you and I’m hard again.”

“Mmmhmm,” she moaned. “I like it when you touch me.”

“I can tell. My ears are still ringing from your screams.” He bit at her neck and she gasped and shivered. “This is just the beginning. Your pussy is like a drug. I’m going to want it anytime and anywhere.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “And I’m going to want that cock anytime and anywhere too.”

He laughed and rubbed her clit a little faster. “I hope so, baby. When I was watching you shoot at the range the other day I wanted to fuck you so bad. I love the way your ass looks in those pants. You were just begging to be bent over where you were standing. The next time we’re there I’m going to fuck you that way.”

She shivered and her nipples tightened to tiny pebbles at the thought. She could see it perfectly.

“Have you ever been fucked in that perfect ass, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” she panted. “And I love it. But never by someone as big as you.”

“I knew you would love it,” he said, thrusting a little harder. “That ass just begs for it. I’m glad you’re not a novice, because I don’t know how patient I can be.”

“There’s not another orgasm like it,” she panted. “Sometimes I pass out, it’s so strong.”

“God, baby. I’ll take your ass soon. And I’ll fill it up. Just like I’m about to do to that sweet pussy.”

“Hurry, hurry,” she panted. “Fuck me.”

It didn’t take much to send them both over the edge.

* * *

T
hey were only
a little late to breakfast and physical therapy. This was new territory for her. The relationships she’d had in the past never overlapped with her work. Her personal life and work life had always been two very separate things. But here she was, with Shane, and from his own mouth she knew they’d very much be mixing work and pleasure.

Breakfast was mostly spent in silence, and there was a brief moment where she wondered if the sex had messed up their ability to have great conversations.

“You’re thinking so hard you’re giving me a headache,” he finally said. “And you know what? I actually hate oatmeal. Why do I keep getting it?”

“It’s good for you. Sticks to your stomach.”

“That sounds appetizing,” he said, making a disgusted face. “I want bacon and pancakes.”

“Then order it in the morning,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’re the one who keeps ordering oatmeal.”

“Because you’re a doctor and I’m afraid you’ll lecture me on bad carbs and high cholesterol.”

“I will, but you’ll probably enjoy your pancakes and bacon anyway. You’ve never struck me as someone who really gave a shit what anyone else thought.”

“True, which is why I’m more than comfortable telling you the beard burn on your neck isn’t going away. And neither is the bite mark.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and took a bite of her own oatmeal. “Guess what, MacKenzie? I’ve never really given a shit what other people think either. You’ve got your own marks to worry about.”

“I’m just saying there are a lot of people on this compound. People are going to talk.”

“Does it bother you?”

He was quiet for a minute and scooped up the rest of his oatmeal. And then he finally said, “I’m used to being talked about. And normally it doesn’t bother me. I also know how the guys talk about me.” He shrugged and grinned. “I might’ve had a reputation where the ladies were concerned.”

She arched a brow at him. “I know. I saw you go home with the bridesmaids at Cade’s wedding.”

He had the good sense to blush at that one and he cleared his throat. “All I’m saying is I don’t care what they say about me. I just don’t want the talk to be disrespectful to you. You’re…different.”

“Thank you. And we’re both grownups. As long as nothing we do interferes with the job at hand, I don’t consider it to be anyone’s business but our own. And if anyone is disrespectful I’ll punch them in the face.” She paused a second and took in Shane’s bemused look. “Or if it makes you feel better, I’ll let you punch them. Last time I punched someone I fractured my knuckles. Hurt like a bitch.”

“Damn, you’re a scary woman. Who’d you punch?”

“A guy during basic training who didn’t like to be told no.” She didn’t pause between that statement and the next thing she needed to tell him. “I’ve been watching the incision areas and where the infection was in your leg the past week. You’re good to go for the prosthetic. I thought we might go today after physical therapy.”

“Oh did you,” he said mildly, downing the rest of his orange juice in one gulp.

“Everyone has a purpose,” she reminded him. “It’s your job to get back on track so you can figure out what it is.”

* * *

S
hane was getting stronger
every day. His other leg was making good progress, and he’d built his upper body strength to close to where it had been before his accident. Lacey knew from experience that his upper body and arm strength would eventually surpass what it had been before as long as he kept working, and Shane was the kind of man who always took care of his physical shape. His life had depended on it, and that was a habit that wasn’t easy to break.

Once PT was through, one of the trainers took him into the showers so he could get cleaned up. And while he was doing that, she worried about the potential upcoming explosion. It wouldn’t be normal if they didn’t butt heads on at least one thing a day, and she doubted that would change now that they were lovers. Hell, their arguments were more foreplay than for the sake of actual arguing.

But she wondered if she’d gone too far. Now all she could hope was that he didn’t unleash his anger at an unsuspecting target. Because she’d gone against Declan’s recommendation, and she hoped her decision didn’t come back to bite her in the ass.

Lacey watched as Mary MacKenzie walked into the gym Declan had built at the compound, and where the physical therapist was coming to work with Shane every other day. After Declan had shared that their mother was the glue that held the MacKenzie’s together, Lacey took a chance and decided to reach out to her. If she were a mother, she knew she’d want to be there on the day her son started walking again.

Mary was a handsome woman somewhere in her sixties, but she could’ve passed for more than a decade younger. She was petite and fine-boned, and her skin was unlined. Her blonde hair was cut in a sleek bob, and her gray eyes were exactly like Declan’s. She’d seen Mary in action and knew she was a force to be reckoned with. Any woman who could raise five children, and help raise their four cousins after their parents had passed away, had to be a hell of a woman.

Mary held out her hands to Lacey and said, “Thank you for calling. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I know Declan wanted us to have minimal interaction with Shane while he’s adjusting, but Declan’s not a mother. I was there at his birth, for his first steps, broken bones, broken hearts, and everything else he put me through. I want to be here for this too.”

“I’d want the same,” she told her.

A few minutes later, Shane was wheeled out of the men’s locker room, and she could tell he was surprised to see his mother, though he didn’t voice it. He looked exhausted, and his gaze swept over Lacey, piercing her with a look she couldn’t quite interpret. It was a look that seemed much too personal, too invasive, but she didn’t break his gaze. She’d never been one to cower when things made her uncomfortable or unsure. She met his gaze head on and then realized those kinds of heated looks probably weren’t appropriate in front of his mother.

“You look a little flushed, Shane,” Mary said, breaking the silence. “Are you running a fever?”

“No, just got out of a hot shower. I didn’t get hardly any sleep last night and I’m exhausted.” He waggled his brows at Lacey and she smacked him on the back of the head in warning as he wheeled by.

Dammit. She felt herself blushing again. She hadn’t gotten any sleep either, and she remembered why in Technicolor. She was sore in places she hadn’t been in a long time, she was pale, and she had beard burn and a hickey. Mary MacKenzie had raise four boys. She wasn’t an idiot.

Mary hugged Shane and kissed him on the top of the head, but nothing else was said as they made their way to her Land Rover and toward the hospital where they’d be fitting Shane for his prosthetic. Nerves were running high. Shane’s hands were balled into fists on top of his thighs, and Mary had chewed off her lipstick.

The hospital was almost a half-hour from the compound, away from civilization and higher in elevation. The area around it was thickly treed, though space had been cleared for a private airstrip and helicopter pad. A chain-link fence with barbed wire at the top surrounded the property and guards manned the gate. It looked like a military operation from the outside, but the only signs for outsiders who might happen to stumble across the area read “Keep Out” and “No Trespassing.”

Lacey showed her ID and signed in Mary and Shane, since they were on the list of permanent visitors. Then she typed in her personal code at the keypad. The gates opened slowly and she knew the security guards inside the hospital were watching them, as well as the guards stationed outside. The tight security had never bothered her, but for some reason she was more aware of the eyes following them than she’d ever been before.

“I’m sorry, what?” Lacey said.

Shane rolled his eyes. “I said, you haven’t mentioned anything about your house lately. Seems too strange to be an isolated incident. Does Dec have any leads?”

“What happened to your house?” Mary asked, unabashedly eavesdropping.

“It burned down,” Lacey answered, and then she turned back to Shane. “It must be genetic. I don’t know how any of you seem to know the things you know. Even if you don’t know you know them.”

Shane nodded as if that made perfect sense. “Intuition. And just knowing how patterns work. What happened?” he said, narrowing his eyes. “And why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“Honestly, because I forgot about. I’ve be a little…preoccupied.” She looked at Shane out of the corner of her eye and saw him grin. “Declan said he was taking care of looking into the fire. No one unusual was seen in the area around my house, and Dec thinks the goal was to scare me instead of kill me, otherwise they would’ve waited until I was asleep at night to start the fire.”

“Unless they knew you were just as likely to be home sleeping during the day,” Mary cut in.

When Lacey looked back in the rearview mirror with raised eyebrows Mary said, “Declan always talks about the erratic hours you keep. He says you’ll forget and work the whole night through and then crash for awhile before you come back again. I saw that myself when Shane was admitted. You were there by his side for weeks.”

Shane gave her a searching look and she cleared her throat uncomfortably. That wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have just yet.

“There are easier ways to kill me if someone wanted to,” she said. “I live here, and I’m not always at the hospital. I have to go to the grocery store on occasion.”

“So what was the second incident?” he asked.

“Someone sent me a package of photos from my last mission. They left them in my locked car while I was in town doing some shopping. The photos were of the victims of a car bomb that took out my convoy. Twelve out of eighteen soldiers were killed, and there wasn’t anything I could do to save most of them. The photos were the ones taken for identification before the deceased were shipped back to the United States. Not easily obtainable. But someone got their hands on them.”