Broken Scars

by J. M. Walker

  ***

  (Lucas)

  After I had helped the owner of the restaurant with setting up his new security system, I was testing it when I saw Lily and that bastard on camera. I told the young waiter who had been serving them, to let her know that I was there. I was just going to talk to her but when she came down the hall, my alpha instincts took over. Once I found out that fucker was married and there was no way Lily would go back to being with him, I calmed down. For the moment anyway.

  “Go back to your little date, Lily Pad,” I said, kissing her cheek.

  “It’s not a date.” She shivered.

  “You can say it’s not a date all you want but he thinks it is.” I gave her ass a light tap. “I’ll see you after.”

  She sighed. “Lucas, it’s not a date. I told you he was married.”

  “Tell him that then, Lily.”

  She went to leave the stall when I grabbed her arm and pulled her back against me.

  “Lucas,” she whispered. “It’s not a date, will never be a date, because as I told you earlier, he’s married.”

  “You need to remind him of that then,” I growled, nipping her earlobe.

  “I did,” she said, turning around and placing her hands on my chest. “I also told him that I would hear him out. Let him explain, and then I would leave.”

  “Has he explained yet?”

  “No.”

  “There’s your answer. He’s stalling.” I kissed the side of her neck and unlocked the bathroom stall.

  “You going to stay here?” she asked me.

  “Oh yeah.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You have nothing to be jealous over. He’s not going to do anything.”

  “You should go,” I said, ignoring her. “You don’t want him wondering where you are but remember who you’re spending the night with.”

  “Asshole,” she muttered and left the bathroom.

  I chuckled to myself, took a piss and quickly washed my hands before heading back to the owner’s office. Since Lily was here with Killian, I needed to watch and make sure he didn’t try anything. Or else I would break his fingers and cut out his tongue. I almost wished he did do something. I needed something to take the edge off. The jealousy coursing through me was new. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, but I knew that no matter what happened tonight, Lily was coming home with me.

  Lily

  WHILE I SAT AT THE table with Killian and ate my meal, I could sense that Lucas was watching us. I enjoyed the jealous side of him. Not that he had any reason to be jealous in the first place though.

  Killian was on his third beer when I returned from the washroom, the fifth by the time we were done the meal. His cheeks had a red tinge and his eyes were glassed over. He kept staring at my chest and licking his lips. But at no time did he ever offer to explain anything about his wife.

  I bit back an eye-roll. Maybe Lucas had been right.

  “I should go,” I said, placing my napkin on top of my plate. The meal had been delicious but the company, not so much.

  “You haven’t had any dessert,” Killian said, his voice husky.

  “I don’t want any dessert,” I told him. “Thank you for dinner but I should really get going. My grandmother called me while I was in the bathroom.”

  He frowned. “You didn’t bring your purse with you. How could she call you?”

  Shit. “Listen, Killian. You called and invited me here under the pretense that you were going to explain about your wife.”

  “No.” He slapped a hand on the table. “You listen to me, Lily. I was kind and invited you out for dinner when you would have been sitting at home by yourself or worse, holed up with that fucker, Lucas. What do you see in him anyway? Is it the tattoos? The eye patch? Because if that’s your thing, I can get tattoos and wear a patch too.”

  “That has nothing to do with it,” I gritted out, grabbing my purse and standing.

  “Sit the fuck down,” Killian barked.

  I took that as my chance and went to walk away when he grabbed my arm.

  “Sit. Down,” he growled, squeezing my arm.

  I winced as the pain from his firm grip spread up my arm.

  “Let her go.”

  I jumped at the deep voice coming from behind me.

  “What the hell do you want?” Killian released me, sitting back.

  “Come on, Lily.” Lucas cupped my nape. “I’ll drive you home.”

  “Thank you for dinner, Killian.” I reached into my purse and threw some cash on the table.

  “Stay,” Killian said, standing.

  “No.”

  “She’s my ex-wife.”

  I looked at him then, my heart panging for the guy who was so damn desperate for more. “I’m sorry that your marriage failed, but that doesn’t change anything. I’m with Lucas now.”

  “Stay. Please,” Killian insisted.

  “I don’t suggest causing a scene.” Lucas moved beside me. He towered over Killian by a few inches and was definitely bigger in size.

  Killian sat.

  I let Lucas walk me out, thankful that Killian didn’t cause a scene. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”

  Lucas shrugged, his hand finding mine. “Did you drive here?”

  “No. I walked.”

  “You did?”

  I could feel him looking down at me, but I only stared ahead as we walked hand in hand down the street. “I like walking.”

  “It’s late, Lily.”

  “It’s only eight. And before you tell me how dangerous it is, I already know that. I was actually going to take a taxi to your place but clearly, that’s not happening anymore.”

  “Woman.” Lucas pulled me into an alleyway. “Do you know what kind of monsters lurk in the dark around here?”

  I laughed lightly, reaching out to touch his strong jaw. “I think the only monster I should be scared of, is standing right in front of me.”

  “You’re going to be the death of me,” he grumbled, grabbed my hand, kissed my palm, and pulled me from the alley.

  “You like it, Lucas.” I laughed. “Admit it.”

  He only shook his head. “Did you tell your grandmother that you were going to be out again tonight?”

  “I did. She was thankful that it is you I’m spending the night with and not Killian. She doesn’t like him.”

  “Neither do I.”

  I gasped, stopping suddenly and clutching my throat. “You don’t? I never would have guessed.”

  Lucas rolled his eyes. “Women.”

  I giggled, standing on tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “Take me to your home, Lucas.”

  ***

  “Tell me something about you that no one knows,” I said, placing my feet on Lucas’s lap.

  “Really?” He cupped my shin, turning his body toward me.

  “Yeah.” I sat forward. “Anything at all.”

  He tapped his chin. “I have a thing for this woman I only just met a short while ago.”

  I laughed, gently smacking his arm. “But I already know that. It doesn’t count.”

  “How did you know I was talking about you?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

  “Because you can’t handle me, let alone another woman,” I threw back at him.

  He chuckled. “True.” He thought a moment. “I spent a year in jail.”

  “Really? For what?” This could be interesting.

  “I was…troubled as a teen. Hung out with the wrong people. Got caught.” He shrugged. “Your typical shit.”

  “Ah, yes. The life of a troubled teen.” I sighed. “Well if it helps any, I’m an alcoholic,” I confessed, getting a feeling that he wanted the subject changed off of him. “Killian questioned tonight why I didn’t want a glass of wine. I didn’t want to explain it to him.” I picked at a random fuzz on Lucas’s hoodie. “It’s frustrating.”

  “It can be but that’s not something that no one knows, Lily Pad.” Lucas pulled me into his arms. “You broke your own rules.”

>   I laughed, running my finger down his jaw. “Fine. I like this guy.”

  “That’s not—”

  “Shhh…” I placed my finger against his lips. “I’m not done.” I brushed my thumb over his bottom lip. “As I was saying. I like this guy who makes me feel…I don’t know, special I guess. I have a hard time trusting people. My grandma is the only person who has never let me down. But I trust you and I’ve never had a guy become jealous like you were tonight.”

  “I’ve never had a reason to be jealous before. Not until you.”

  “Really?” I tilted my head. “You’ve never dated a woman who was with another guy who made you jealous? At all?”

  “No.” Lucas’s jaw clenched. “I don’t date, Lily Pad. Any time I spent with a woman, ended up in sex. It was all they wanted.”

  “Well, they’re missing out on the best part.” My chest pained for him.

  “Yeah? And what’s that?”

  I placed a soft peck on his mouth. “You.”

  His breath caught. He cupped my nape, deepening the kiss. “You’re fucking incredible.”

  I broke the kiss. “I’m not.”

  “You keep saying that, but I still don’t believe you.” Lucas brushed his hands up and down my legs.

  “Most of the guys I went out with never cared if I went out to dinner with someone else,” I confessed.

  “Well, I care, Lily Pad. I don’t give a shit if you were out to dinner as just friends. He’s a man. So he’s competition.”

  “I’m not attracted to him, even if he is no longer married.” Killian was a good-looking guy. Until he opened his mouth.

  “But you’re attracted to me.” Lucas ran his hands back up the sides of my legs and beneath my dress.

  “You really have to ask that?” I breathed, pushing to my knees. “I was hoping you would take out your alpha male on me. Maybe let him fuck me in that bathroom stall.”

  “I was being a gentleman,” Lucas said, his voice raspy.

  “What if I didn’t want you to be a gentleman?” I purred. “What if I wanted to feel you throughout dinner?”

  “Fuck.” Lucas snapped the sides of my thong.

  “Hmm…does that turn you on, Lucas?” I licked down the length of his jaw to his ear. “Knowing that your big dick fills me up to the point, I can feel you after?”

  “Lily,” he growled. “Take my cock out and drop this cunt on it. Now.”

  I grinned. “Do you want something, baby?”

  “Yes.” His fingers dug into the cheeks of my ass. “Lily, I’m not going to repeat myself.”

  As much as I wanted to listen to him, I sat there and stared at him instead. Something passed between us.

  “Lily,” he said, his voice rough, his fingers digging into my hips. “Stop staring and give me what I want, baby.”

  I grinned, unbuckling his belt.

  Lucas’s nostrils flared. “I need to feel you. Tell me you’re on the pill.”

  “I am.” As soon as those two words left my lips, Lucas crushed his mouth to mine.

  ***

  “I can’t say that I’ve ever had a bath with someone before.” I played with the bubbles, leaning against Lucas.

  He chuckled, running his thumb back and forth over my nipple. “I can’t say that I have either.”

  “This is nice.” Although the tub was small and we had to squeeze into it, it was perfect.

  “It is. It’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever done with a woman before.” Lucas pushed me forward, grabbed the cloth off the side of the tub and dunked it in the hot water before running it over my back.

  “Really?” I looked at him over my shoulder. “This is nicer than the sex too?”

  His gaze popped to mine. His hand paused in its path along my back. “With anyone else, yes. This is nicer. But with you, all of it’s nice.”

  My heart swelled.

  “When did you realize you had a drinking problem?”

  “When I started putting liquor in my coffee in the morning.” I turned back around, taking the hint at the need for the subject change. “But I didn’t realize it myself. My grandma said something. I spent months coming home shit-faced. I also spent many nights in the drunk tank because I was too intoxicated to take a taxi.”

  “Weren’t you with your friends?” Lucas asked, running the cloth over the back of my neck.

  I scoffed. “I don’t have any friends. I’ve always been a loner. Spent most of my time with my nose stuck in a book.”

  “Or in front of a computer,” Lucas added.

  “Yeah.” I shrugged, running my finger over a tattoo of a dragon that sat on his calf. “What made you get all of these tattoos?”

  “To cover most of my scars. And they’re also addicting.”

  “Well I can’t say I’ve ever been with a guy who has his dick tattooed.”

  Lucas chuckled. “I was waiting for you to mention it.”

  I smiled. “I think your octopus likes me.”

  His laugh got louder. The sound was rich and deep. “I think he does too.”

  When we finished our bath, I went to get dressed but remembered I only had my dress from my dinner with Killian.

  “Here.” Lucas handed me a t-shirt and boxers. “These don’t fit me anymore. They’ll be big but more comfortable than your dress.”

  “Thank you.” I slipped into the white t-shirt and plaid boxers. “Much better.” I smoothed my hands down the shirt and looked up, finding Lucas staring at me. “What?”

  He cleared his throat, looking away. “Nothing.”

  “What is it?” I asked, touching his arm.

  “I like you in my clothes.” He adjusted himself. “A lot actually.”

  I giggled, sidling up to him. “Really?” I asked, when my stomach rumbled.

  “You didn’t eat your dinner?” He pinched my chin, tilting my head back.

  “I did but I think I worked up an appetite.” I patted his chest. “Feed me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted me.

  I followed Lucas out into the living room. I found that I liked his place. It was small but homey.

  “I want to show you something first.” He stopped in front of another door at the end of the hallway. “You like reading.”

  “I do.”

  He opened the door, turned on the light and motioned for me to enter.

  I stepped past him, my eyes widening when they landed on books. So many books. All four walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A throw rug sat in the middle of the floor with a red beanbag chair on top of it. It was absolutely perfect.

  “Oh, Lucas.” I smiled up at him. “I wish I had this many books.”

  He grinned. “Any time you’re over, feel free to read whatever you want.”

  “Thank you.” I stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

  He stared down at me. Something new passed between us. I wasn’t sure what it was but him showing me his library made my heart skip a beat.

  Clearing my throat, I stepped back out into the hall as he closed the door behind me.

  Without saying a word, he headed to the kitchen.

  I curled up on the couch and turned on the TV.

  “Alright, Lily. Here’s my masterpiece.” Lucas sat beside me and handed me a plate with a sandwich on top.

  I took it from him and lifted the top slice. “My favorite.” I laughed.

  “Yeah?” He grinned.

  I giggled, kissed his cheek, and took a bite of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Definitely,” I said around a mouthful.

  He chuckled. “You can never go wrong with a PB and J. Especially when it’s strawberry jam.”

  “I agree. Or cereal,” I added.

  “Truth.” He winked.

  While we ate in silence, I found my feelings for Lucas grew with each passing second. I had never felt this comfortable with someone before, let alone a man. And he wasn’t just any man. He was Lucas Fucking Crane.

  When we were finished eating, Lucas
grabbed my plate and brought the dirty dishes to the kitchen. He came back a moment later with two glasses of milk.

  “Thank you.” I snuggled into his side and took a sip.

  “You’re welcome, Lily Pad,” he said, resting his arm across my lap.

  For the rest of the night, we watched movies and talked about nothing important. It was nice. It was needed. It was ours.

  Lily

  I WOKE THE NEXT morning to a loud banging. It jarred through the delicious dream I was having about a large tattooed man who took control of every inch of me. I groaned, grumbling a curse as the banging continued.

  “Lucas,” I croaked, my voice thick with sleep. After we had used each other good and hard the night before, we passed out on the couch. But now I was regretting that. My muscles were stiff, my mind foggy. “Lucas.”

  He stirred beneath me.

  “Hey.” I lifted my head, rubbing my eyes. “I think someone’s at your door.”

  “Fucking hell,” he grumbled, pushing out from beneath me. He kissed my head. “Stay here.”

  I nodded, wrapped the blanket around me, and drifted off.

  “I need you,” a woman said.

  My eyes popped open. Well that woke me up. I sat up, finding a woman standing at the doorway. I frowned. It had been the same woman from when I first met Lucas. He had been working on her tattoo. What the hell did she want and why was she at his apartment?

  “Lena, we’ve been over this. Come to a meeting,” he told her.

  “Fuck the meetings.” She placed her hands on his chest. “Please, Lucas.”

  I coughed, raising an eyebrow.

  Both Lena and Lucas glanced my way. She kept her hands on his bare chest. And his lips pulled up into a smirk.

  Looked like he wasn’t the only one who got jealous. Didn’t matter. She shouldn’t be touching him. “Everything okay?” I asked sweetly.

  Lucas grabbed her wrists, pushing her back. “Lena, Lily. Lily, Lena. Now, tell me why you’re really here.”

  “You know why I’m here. I need help.” She placed her hands on her hips, glaring at me.

  I bit back a laugh. Well this was something else that was new for me. I never had to deal with an ex before. I wasn’t sure if she and Lucas had ever been a thing but by the way she wouldn’t stop touching him and glaring daggers at me, she obviously wanted more. My stomach twisted. She looked to be more his type too. With tattoos and piercings, they would fit perfectly together. The only thing I had marring my skin were scars.