by Atlas, Lilly
“Appreciate it, brother.” He held a hand out toward Rocket.
With a rare smile, Rocket clasped LJ’s hand and pulled him close, bumping their chests and slapping LJ on the back. “Need me to follow you home?” he asked when they pulled apart.
“Nah.” LJ shook his head, shifting his gaze to the road leading home. The magnetic pull, the need to be in Holly’s presence grew exponentially with each word spoken. Was she home? In pain? Worried? Angry? Christ, was she afraid? The notion of her having a legitimate fear of him after the morning’s incident speared his heart. But it was a very real possibility. Something he deserved no matter how much it wounded him. Would she let him in, or would he arrive at a locked door and a barred heart? “Need the time to think a little. You head on home to your woman.”
“Never gonna argue with that.” They slapped hands again before Rocket said, “We’re ready when you want to take care of Schwartz.”
“Give me the day. I’ll be by the clubhouse tomorrow.”
Rocket nodded then fired up his bike. He rode off, leaving LJ alone, and he’d be lying if he said the silence wasn’t welcome. With heaviness in his chest, he spent the ride home trying to come up with a plan of action, a battle plan of sorts for when he saw Holly. In the end, after many failed attempts at devising a speech, he gave up. Go with the flow was more his style. So he’d shoot from the hip once he saw her.
Each time his boots hit the ground, he inched one step closer to Holly. By the time he reached the second floor, LJ had himself worked the fuck up. Was Holly even home? Maybe she’d gone to her parents’, or even her brother’s to get away from the drama.
For the first time in his entire life, LJ had the urge to bury his head in the sand and hide. What came next had the power to wreck him.
Before knocking on her door, he needed to get out of the too-small T-shirt and shower the events of the past fifteen hours away. At least he could remove the physical evidence of what went down. The extra scars on his soul would remain forever.
As LJ turned the key and pushed his door open, a low whine greeted him. “What?” He stepped in only to be greeted by a forceful nose to the crotch. He patted the dog’s big head, but his attention was elsewhere.
Standing in the middle of his foyer wearing nothing but one of his Handlers’ T-shirts, with tears streaming down her bruised face was Holly. Despite red eyes, a discolored cheek, and the mess of her hair, she was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
They stared at each other across the ten feet that separated them. Biscuit seemed oblivious to the tension, wanting nothing more than a good scratch from LJ.
“I—” Holly swallowed as she closed her eyes. After a breath, she tried again. “I’m so sorry, LJ.”
The absolute agony in her voice cracked his heart in two. “Jesus, Holly, say anything, anything to me besides an apology. Scream, tell me to fuck off, say you never want to see me again, but for fuck’s sake don’t tell me you’re sorry for a goddammed thing.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EMOTIONS RADIATED OFF LJ in such powerful waves, the feelings were practically visible. Stress, anger, fatigue, guilt, a whole host of negative thinking wafted Holly’s way, and it had her heart sinking straight to the floor.
He was going to end it. She could feel it in her bones. The incident with his nightmare was fucking with his head, and he was going to cast her aside with some noble notion of keeping her safe from him.
Despite the fact her heart was splintering—something she refused to acknowledge because her heart wasn’t supposed to have gotten involved here—Holly stepped forward and held out a hand. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s get cleaned up.”
“Holly—”
“Not now, LJ, okay? I need a few moments to think about something other than the past day. Take a shower with me. We’ll get cleaned up, then lie down and talk.”
He watched her for a moment, eyes assessing as though waiting for her to break. She wouldn’t, at least not until she’d made sure he was holding up.
LJ’s whole body sagged and seemed to deflate like the air being let out of a balloon. With a nod, he put his palm against Holly’s outstretched hand. For just one second, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of having his trust before she walked them both to LJ’s un-frilly bathroom.
His shower was small, a replica of hers, only in reverse. The tiny space began to fill with steam only seconds after she cranked the water to steaming hot. “Turn around,” Holly ordered.
Surprisingly, LJ obeyed. Holly slid her hands under the tight shirt, working it up his back. At mid-spine level, angry red scratches revealed themselves. She sucked in a breath as the fabric of the T-shirt stuck to the marks.
“It’s all right,” he said. “Just give it a good yank.”
She peered around his body and met his gaze in the foggy mirror. “I’ll hurt you.”
A snort was the only response.
Holly gentled her touch as much as possible and took her time working the stuck shirt free of his mangled skin. Every few seconds, she had to give a firm tug to release the fabric. She flinched with each of those. Finally, the shirt made it up to his shoulders, and he took over removing it since she wasn’t tall enough to reach up and over his head.
Long red lines marked his entire upper back and shoulder area. Evidence of how hard she’d been fighting to escape him earlier. Odd, as now all she wanted was to be so close to him they became one. She pressed a soft kiss to an unharmed patch of skin on his back, then rested her forehead against him. “I’m—”
“Don’t say it.” He turned around, cupping a hand against her sore cheek in a touch so gentle, it shouldn’t have been possible from such a large man. “You’re the one who’s hurt. I should be taking care of you.”
The past twenty-four hours had been such a roller coaster of emotions, Holly could barely process the dichotomy between the soaring highs and crushing lows. The loop-de-loops had her mind racing so fast, the rest of her couldn’t keep up. “Let’s take care of each other.”
With a nod, LJ guided her into the shower stall, following directly behind. His big body took up so much of the space, Holly ended up with her back against the wall opposite the spray.
The moment the water hit LJ’s back, he let out a loud hiss that had Holly cringing. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to hog all the hot water, just wanted to get this part over with.”
Large hands landed on her shoulders, then LJ turned them until she was the one under the warm water. “It’s fine,” she said. “Turn around, let me see.”
For a moment, he just watched her with an expression she couldn’t read. Compressed lips, flat eyes, ticking jaw. Then he smoothed wet hair off her brow, gripped the back of her head and placed the gentlest of kisses on her forehead.
Thank God for the cascade of water as it hid the sheen of tears in her eyes.
LJ turned, bracing his hands high on the slippery wall.
“I’m just going to use my hands instead of a washcloth, okay?” she asked. “Feel like I can be gentler that way.”
“Sure, sugar.”
Holly grabbed the generic bottle of body wash from the small cutout shelf and squeezed a dollop onto her palms. With slow movements, she worked the gel into a later, taking a moment to enjoy the sight of his muscular back and shoulders. Even with the wounds, he was impressive. “Ready?”
“To have you put those hands all over me? Yeah, sugar, think I can handle it.”
With one hand, Holly tested his response by rubbing over one of the scratches. When he didn’t hiss again or jolt form the sting, she grew bolder and stroked her hands over his entire back, washing away the blood that had dried in streaks on his tanned skin.
“I don’t think I messed up any of your tattoos,” she said as the washing became more of a massage.
“I’m sure you didn’t. Feels good, Hol,” he said as she kneaded his shoulders like dough.
“You’re so strong.” And that powe
r and muscle felt incredible beneath her palms.
“Product of the job. Lifting, swinging tools, carrying heavy shit.”
“Hmm.” She slid her hands around the front, washing his chest and abs. “You work out too though, don’t you? I know you at least run a lot.”
“Yeah, and I try to hit Zach’s gym a few times a week. Been tough lately with my schedule.”
By now most of the suds had rinsed away, but Holly continued running her hands over his skin as though washing him. She coasted her hands down to the front of LJ’s thighs and back around to the very firm globes of his ass. God, the man could quit his job and become an underwear model any day of the week. He’d be a millionaire by the end of the month.
She took a step forward, plastering her wet front to his back as she skimmed around his body once again. This time, she circled her fingers around his cock and gave a long, slow squeeze.
Hard, just as she’d hoped. She stroked it, and LJ growled. Damn, that sound did things to her no other man had come close to. Part approval, part desire, part warning, the growl he emitted made her wet every time. With a confidence she’d gained since being with him, she jacked his cock in a hand-over-hand pattern. Wrapped in the circle of her arms, he tensed, the muscles she’d just been admiring rippling with restraint.
“You looking to get fucked, baby?” he asked in a ragged voice. Her man was near the edge.
A shiver undulated through her. “Don’t know what you mean. I’m just making sure you’re all nice and clean.”
He chuckled. “Oh, baby, you wanna play, huh?”
Yes, God, yes, she wanted to play with him. Wanted to lose herself in the heat and passion they shared. It seemed the only thing possible to chase away the events of the past day.
Faster than should have been possible for such a big man in a tiny space, LJ spun. Holly squeaked as her back met the shower wall.
Those large, rough hands squeezed her breasts with a kneading motion much as she’d used on his shoulders seconds ago. Her eyes fell shut as pleasure replaced the pain and stress that had been present from the moment she stepped into Schwartz’s home. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit the fact that LJ loved her breasts so much thrilled her as much as his touch. There was a power in knowing she could make a man crazy with just her body.
A sharp jolt of pleasure had her eyes flying back open and her back arching off the wall as his thumb and forefingers pinched her nipples.
“Jack,” she said, drawing it out in a raspy moan.
He wasn’t gentle, twisting and pulling on the sensitive tips. Each tug sent a rush of need between her legs.
“Just returning the favor, sugar. Getting you all clean.”
Somehow her brain engaged enough to process his words, and she chuckled. “How exactly are you getting me clean?”
“Do you give a fuck?”
He scraped his blunt nails over the tips of her nipples, making her cry out in pleasure. “No, absolutely no fucks given. Oh, shit. Please, Jack.”
The grin he gave her as he stared down at her and continued to torture her nipples was positively wicked. “Please what, baby?”
“Please touch me.” He was going to make her insane with need. With each passing second, the ache in her core grew in intensity. Her pussy practically spasmed with the need to be filled. To be pounded. To be fucked until she was screaming.
“Pretty sure I’ve been touching you for the last few minutes.”
“Not enough.” She groaned and shifted her legs until they straddled his thigh. Something, anything to give her the friction she needed.
“Oh, I see,” he said, the grin turning playful. Such a welcome change to the strain written on his face since he’d woken up. “You want to be fucked, don’t you sugar?”
“You already know this,” Holly practically snarled as she worked her hips on his thigh. He pulled back, and this time she did growl.
LJ chuckled. “I do know it, baby. But I want to hear you say it. I want to hear how much you need my cock. How much your pretty pussy wants to be full of my dick. Wants to be fucked hard.”
She was going to die if he didn’t do all of that and soon. “Yes. Yes!” she said as he increased the pressure on her nipples. “All of that. Please, Jack, stop torturing me and fuck me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied as his hands left her tits and grabbed her ass. He lifted as though she weighed nothing.
“LJ!” she yelped, banding her arms and legs around him. “Are you crazy? I’m way too—”
“Don’t say it! Don’t fucking say it.”
She closed her mouth. She supposed she could keep it in. Didn’t seem like he was struggling to hold her weight.
“Fuck, I want that mouth,” he whispered against her lips now that they were lined up with his.
“Then take it.”
“Your face.” He released one ass cheek then shut off the water. Had she been alone, she’d have been shivering by now, but the heat radiating off LJ plus the strong desire flowing through her kept her well beyond heated.
“It’s fine. I could be shot right now and I don’t think I’d feel it. Kiss me, LJ.”
He needed no other encouragement though his kiss was far more gentle than usual. They stood in the shower for a few moments, exploring each other’s mouths before LJ ripped his away.
“Was gonna dry you off, take you to my bed, do you right, but I can’t fucking wait any longer,” he said as he stepped out of the shower.
“Thank God.”
He grunted out a chuckle. The moment her ass hit the vanity counter, he surged into her.
“Oh, fuck!” she cried. He went deep, so deliciously deep. And with his size, he filled her until she squirmed. The forceful claiming was exactly what she needed.
“So good,” he said as he began to thrust, hard. “So fucking hot and wet.”
“Don’t even think about stopping.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, baby,” he said, though his thrusts never faltered.
“More,” she begged. “Harder, LJ.”
He wasn’t giving it to her gentle to begin with, but she needed something more. Something raw, near savage to erase her guilt and fears.
His fingers tightened on her ass, and even that made her moan in need. Everything he was doing ramped up her desire. On the next thrust, her ass slipped off the edge of the counter. “LJ!” she yelled as she waited to hit the floor.
But he didn’t miss a beat. Still pumping his hips in and out of her, he carried them across his bedroom. Holly got with the program in no time and worked her hips, pretty much riding him while he walked.
He attacked her neck with deep, sucking kisses that were sure to leave even more marks on her skin. It was as though he was trying to replace what happened earlier with evidence of his desire and need.
Without releasing her or breaking their connection, he somehow managed to climb onto the bed and set her on her back. As he loomed over her, Holly couldn’t help the heart-squeeze that meant she was falling in too deep.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready? For what?”
“To be fucked?”
“Umm…what have you been doing the past few minutes? What are you doing now—oh God,” she whispered as he sat back on his heels, shifting inside her. The new position had her ass resting atop his thighs and legs splayed around him. Only the tip of his cock remained inside her. Smirk in place, he grabbed her ass and yanked her up his body, seating himself so deep inside her, she swore she’d feel him for hours afterward.
“Want me to repeat the question?” he asked as he rose to a high kneel.
Holly’s upper back, shoulders, and head remained on the mattress, but that was it, the rest of her was suspended in the air by LJ’s cock, and hands on her ass. Her groin muscles ached from the intense stretch of being spread so wide. “Wh-what question?” she asked as excitement shot through her.
This was going to be so good.
“Thought so.” He winked and squeezed
her ass in the second before he started fucking her like she’d never been fucked before. LJ put the full power of his huge thighs and rounded ass into every plunge. Over and over, he slammed into her.
The position rendered her helpless to do anything but submit to the brutal pounding. Before long, her mind blanked to anything but the intense pleasure of LJ’s full power unleashed on her.
“Could watch those big tits bounce like that all goddamned day.”
Their gazes met and a sly smile curled Holly’s mouth. She cupped her breasts, which were swaying heavily with each thrust, then thumbed her nipples. LJ’s focus left her face and lasered in on her breasts. His nostrils flared and she swore his lip curled.
“Go at ’em hard.”
At that moment he could have asked her to start singing the National Anthem and she’d have belted out the tune. Anything to keep that look of fascination with her body on his face. She pinched her nipples.
“Christ, your pussy just clenched me like a vise. Roll ’em, baby. Let me see how much attention my girl’s tits like.”
Nearly out of her mind with pleasure, she did as he asked. The tips of her toes started to tingle, and it felt like electricity zinged through her body.
“That’s it.” His hands tightened on her ass. “Rub your clit. Need to feel you come around me.”
Holly moaned as she moved one hand to her clit. She worked it with rough strokes as she spiraled closer and closer to orgasm. The rest of the world faded away as pleasure flooded every pore in Holly’s body. Her pussy tightened on LJ’s tunneling dick.
“That’s it, baby. Get it, squeeze me.”
“Oh, Jack,” she cried as the orgasm slammed into her with punishing force. Her eyes screwed shut, and she let it overtake her. LJ kept the pace up, grunting and praising her. Just as she opened her eyes, he slammed home one last time, holding her tight again him. His back arched, exposing the corded muscles of his throat as he shouted through his own climax.
When the storm passed, LJ lowered her body to the bed. Their gazes locked.