“Are you sure that he will be okay here and not in a hospital?” she asked.
“Definitely. Dr. Genova gave the okay, too. Plus, Fort is a bit of a demon when he’s hurt.”
She turned to look up at him and he took the opportunity to change positions and block her in against the door frame. She stared up into his eyes.
“Something tells me that the four of you are probably not pleasant when you aren’t in perfect condition,” she said, seeming to know them so well.
He caressed her hips and she remained with her arms at her sides but tightened up. He took in the sight of her features, then her eyes and her lips.
“I missed you,” he admitted. Her eyes filled with tears. They literally got glossy, and he narrowed his eyes at her.
“We should go back,” she said and turned to move. He wouldn’t let her. He knew that the others kissed her, and even though they found out some guy scared her and hurt her, it made him want a kiss from her, too. Want to break down her walls and make her accept them as her guardians. He never missed anyone, and never had someone to come home to after a mission. He wanted Mercy there. He reached up and stroked her cheek.
“Breaker.”
“No, I need something from you. Something that will ease what was missing, what I didn’t have when I was gone,” he said to her, and she squinted.
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
He lowered down toward her lips, yet held her gaze. “You,” he said, then pressed his lips to hers. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, pulled her away from the door frame and against his chest. He ran his hand along her back to her ass and squeezed her sexy butt. He rocked his hips against her mound and she moaned into his mouth. He realized that he was going to not abide by her request to be only friends. No, he was going to prove to her that lovers was what they were meant to be and whoever the dick was that hurt her and was making her resist his affection, as well as his team’s, was not going to win. Breaker and his brothers were.
* * * *
Mercy pulled back and Breaker released her lips but held her snugly against his chest. They were both breathing rapidly. Her face was against his chest, and she could smell his cologne and inhaled the fresh scent of soap from his recent shower. She didn’t want to look at him, to face him. Breaker was so hard and intimidating, and she basically just went against her whole promise of not getting romantically involved with them.
She started to pull back when she felt his palm slid over her ass and grip it. His one hand was so firm, so big that it practically covered both ass cheeks.
“We have things to work out. I’ll try to be patient, but honesty is important, Mercy,” he said to her.
She stepped away, pushing gently off his forearms and he narrowed his eyes at her, then gazed over her body. She licked her lips. “I believe honesty is very important, too, Breaker. That’s why we can’t all make a habit of kissing like this. It can’t keep happening.”
“Thinking that is not an option. Not with this attraction we all feel and how good you feel in my arms, never mind with my hand over that sexy ass. God damn, woman, you drive me wild,” he said and she blushed, lowered her eyes, and then took a deep breath. As she released it, he grabbed her hand and stepped closer to her. Breaker brought her hand to his mouth and when he kissed her knuckles, holy shit did her body come alive. Her nipples hardened, her pussy throbbed, and she covered her mouth with her hand. She forced the tears from her eyes and he rubbed her arms.
“Don’t cry, baby. Please trust us, we won’t hurt you, or betray you.”
She uncovered her mouth, straightened her shoulders and exhaled. “I need to fix dinner. I came here to help.”
“That’s real sweet of you, and we appreciate it. I, for one, am pretty damn exhausted.”
“I bet.”
“Come on then, we’ll let him rest,” Breaker said, and she looked at Fort lying there in bed, pale, sound asleep, and her heart ached for him. She wanted to take care of him, to be here for him, but how could she if they all kept kissing her the way they kept doing? She’d lose her mind.
As they headed back into the kitchen, she went about preparing dinner with Lux’s help while the others had a few beers and talked about the hectic schedules and the debriefing the next few days. “We can get some of the men to assist, so that Fort isn’t left alone,” Channing said to them.
“We appreciate that. We have our regular scheduled training and instructions to do, as well, plus we need to find a temporary replacement for a few things while Fort is laid up,” Breaker said.
Lux gave her hip a tap. “We appreciate you going shopping and then coming over to help cook. The last couple of days have been insane,” he said to her.
“I bet they were. When did you make it to the hospital?” she asked.
“A few days ago. We were at one hospital overseas and had to wait to transport him to the States. We were lucky to get into Texas.”
“A few days ago?” she asked and felt that insulted, uneasy feeling hit her core. They didn’t really trust her. They wanted her trust though.
Lux placed his arm around her waist and squeezed her hip as he whispered into her ear.
“We would have called you as soon as we were safe and in the States, but the rules, Mercy.”
“Why would you call me? We’re just friends. I would think you would call one of your other buddies or Spartan and them as your commanders,” she said and then went back to fixing up the chicken. He slid his arms off of her.
“Thought you might care, I guess,” he said, and then looked away. She insulted him. Got him mad, and she felt bad.
“So Thursday and Friday are both bad for us. We’ll need someone after three while we complete appointments,” Scout said. It sounded like they were trying to find someone but couldn’t.
“He isn’t going to let just anyone in here. God knows he’s a prick when he’s laid up,” Breaker said, and they chuckled.
It sounded like this wasn’t the first time Fort was injured on a mission and laid up, as they referred to it.
They went round and round suggesting different people and then talked about how bad they cooked and they laughed.
“I’ll come over after work, if it helps. Tomorrow I can stop by the supermarket and get food for the remainder of the week, then bring it here and help out this week after work. I can get here by three, if you want,” she said, and they all just stared at her with stunned expressions.
“Are you sure about this, Mercy? I thought after our conversation—”
She interrupted her brother. “They know we’re friends and where I stand, and friends help when they’re needed. I don’t mind cooking and helping out, but if you’re not comfortable or you think Fort will be uncomfortable, then I understand. Perhaps there’s like some sort of day nurse or something.”
“Yeah, not going to happen. Pansies use day nurses,” Thor said, and they laughed.
“Thank you, Mercy. We appreciate your offer and we’ll take you up on it. We’re lucky to have you as a good friend,” Scout said to her, but when he looked over her body he did so with hunger in his eyes, and like a man with a plan. Hopefully, she didn’t just make a huge mistake.
* * * *
“She was here?” Fort asked and took each painful step with Lux’s assistance to the bathroom.
“Yes, and she’s coming back tomorrow afternoon to help out. You know, cook and be here because we need to do some stuff.”
“I don’t want her seeing me like this. I mean, I want her spending time with you guys and eventually me, too, but not while I’m in pain and can’t even stay awake.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. She isn’t exactly biting on the whole being-our-woman thing. Some shit happened. When Scout and I got back here before you and Breaker, we went to see her, because we missed her.”
“And?” he asked.
“And we found out that she was involved with some guy. He hurt her. Not sure how, but the gist of it was she�
��s afraid.”
“Of getting hurt?”
“Of him.”
“Fuck. Who is he? Did you find out? Are you guys taking care of it?” Fort asked, and then cringed from moving around too much.
“Slow the fuck down.”
“Just let me get into the fucking shower,” he complained, and Lux laughed.
“This kind of sucks, huh?” Lux asked, helping his brother step into the shower.
“Kind of,” he snapped, and Lux sealed his lips then closed the shower door.
Fort exhaled as the hot water hit his body. He couldn’t believe how sore his other muscles felt. Probably from tightening up from the pain. He wasn’t some fucking pussy though. If Mercy was going to be here then he needed to be strong. As he raised his arms to wash his hair he cursed under his breath. He could barely rinse his hair and then wash his body, but he did. He forced his way through it. By the time he was done, he felt tired. He turned off the water and Lux opened the shower door and handed him a towel.
“Bad?” Lux asked, locking gazes with him and looking almost as if he felt his pain. They were twins and they were close.
“I’ll get through it.”
“With taking your time. Those stitches come undone or get infected and you’re fucked. Now let’s dry you off, and if you want you can lie back down in bed and I’ll apply a new bandage and shit.”
They headed back to the room and his brother helped him get a pair of shorts on.
As he laid back down with Lux’s assistance, because using his stomach muscles hurt, he exhaled.
“Fuck, I can go right back to sleep.”
“Don’t sound so shocked. It isn’t the first time you got shot. You remember how much it takes out of you. Plus this time in the side like that, of course you’re going to be in pain. All the muscles need to heal. Don’t fucking push it and tear something inside,” Lux said and sat on the edge of the bed as he began to remove the protective water-proof bandage.
“So are you guys going to talk to Channing about Mercy and who this guy is and what the deal is?” Fort asked.
“Breaker or Scout will, but I don’t think he’ll tell us much. When she offered to help, Channing seemed shocked and asked her about a conversation they had and whether she really thought it through. She reiterated the whole ‘that’s what good friends do, offer help when their friends need it,’” Lux said, and he looked angry.
“I don’t want to be her fucking friend,” Lux continued. “I don’t look at her and think of a buddy to hang out with. I look at her, at that body, those light green eyes, her long, brown hair and Jesus, I sure the fuck don’t want to be buddies, and definitely don’t want to give her advice on dating and shit. Fuck, it makes me insane. She feels the attraction. We’ve kissed her and she’s kissed us back.”
“Then she’s just scared. Whatever this asshole did to her scared her, Lux. So much so that she maybe can’t allow more than just kissing,” For said.
“I was thinking the same thing. When Scout and I got a little hot and heavy with her, cupped her breast and began to progress, she shoved us away, and the look on her face was a combination of sadness and fear. I felt like she thought we would hurt her, like strike her or force ourselves on her.”
“What?”
“I know, it’s just what I felt, but my gut clenches and I get the feeling that maybe that’s what the guy did to her. Maybe he was abusive.”
“Holy shit. That would explain a lot,” Fort said and closed his eyes. He couldn’t stay awake.
“Bro, rest. You need plenty of it and your body is telling you. We’ll work this out with Mercy. It may take time and patience, but if we all agree she’s what we want, then we can handle it.”
“Sleep. I need sleep so I can heal and help convince her,” Fort said, and Lux chuckled.
“That’s good thinking,” he said and then walked out of the room.
Fort thought about Mercy. Could some guy really have abused her? It would explain the fear she seemed to have when Cherokee was abducted by the man who tried to rape her. Did that mean this guy could come here to Repose looking for her or trying to take her back? Was she so scared that she would go willingly? Did she have feelings for the guy still or did he maybe have a hold on her and she was confused, scared, and the guy played mind games? Jesus, his brain just kept thinking crazy thoughts until exhaustion overtook his mind and he passed out once again.
Chapter Four
“So you aren’t going to tell me anything?” Breaker asked Channing. Scout stood by him and Philippe, Bubba, and Thor were there, too.
“I can’t tell you anything. It’s her decision. If she says only friends, then that’s it,” Channing said as they stood by the mats after working out and training some soldiers.
“That’s bullshit. Tell us about the guy who hurt her. What did he do? Is she in danger? Does she still love him? Does he want her back?” Scout asked.
Channing exhaled. “I don’t know. I can’t discuss it with you. She’s my sister, and if she just wants to be friends then there’s nothing more to discuss here.”
“It’s bullshit, though. We kissed her, Channing. All of us, and she felt the attraction, but when it progressed she panicked, like perhaps she was scared. What did this guy do to her?”
Channing looked like he was biting the inside of his cheek. “I don’t know much, but if she’s resistant then you need to respect that.”
“You know more. Are you at least looking into this guy and seeing if he’s a threat? If he’ll come looking to hurt her?” Breaker asked.
“I don’t know and she doesn’t know. She’s afraid of him, so it says a lot, but she also said she wouldn’t be surprised if he came looking for her to get her back.”
“And you’re fucking okay with this, knowing that this dick hurt her?” Breaker asked all pissed off.
“Of course not. She didn’t tell me everything. I honestly think it’s a lot worse than what she has explained. Some things came out. That’s why my team and I are going to be watching over her more. She hadn’t been honest when she first arrived, and in all honesty, I didn’t push for information. I was just grateful she got away from the trouble. She has every right to be distrustful, guys. Every right after the people she trusted betrayed her. I won’t say more. This is her life, her experiences, and perhaps she wants to keep them a secret and not let anyone know what she went through. She’s hurting, but she’ll figure out a way to get through it. I’ll have her back and so will my team,” Channing said, and Bubba, Philippe, and Thor mumbled in agreement.
“We want to protect her, too. We want to be her guardians and we will continue to pursue her, and convince her that she can trust us,” Scout said to him.
Channing looked shocked but Scout expected that.
“Despite her saying she only wants to be friends and denying any guardianship from anyone?” Channing asked.
“She’s scared. Like you said, more happened that she didn’t divulge to you. We care about her and want her as our woman. Don’t fight us on this, help us, so that she can be protected and cared for the way she deserves instead of living in fear,” Breaker said to Channing.
Channing looked at his team, who nodded. “I won’t stand in your way. Perhaps her helping at the house will make a difference and give you all the opportunity to prove you care and that she can honestly trust you. Just don’t push too much too soon, and don’t hurt her or break her heart. I’m worried about her, and what she hasn’t told me. I get the feeling she is truly scared of this guy.”
Scout bit the inside of his cheek.
“We’ll protect her, and prove to her that she can trust us,” Breaker said, and they all shook hands then went their separate ways. Scout looked at Breaker as they headed toward the truck.
“I don’t like this feeling I have. Not after Cherokee being abducted by that guy, and some of the other situations that have occurred over the years around town,” Scout said to him.
They got into the truck and Bre
aker drove away from the training facility. “I don’t like it either, and it sounds like this guy has a hold on her maybe, and that’s why she’s resistant.”
“You mean like she still has feelings for him?” Scout asked.
“That, or his threats put enough fear in her to make her resist getting involved with us. Like she’s afraid he may show up and react. I don’t know. It’s all just speculation, but I’m not giving up. We want her, and the attraction is strong and something we’ve never experienced before. We’ll work through it one by one, with patience and time.”
“This is going to be torture.”
Breaker snorted. “Only if she doesn’t let us get a little bit of kissing in. She seems okay with that.”
“Friends don’t make out,” Scout said and looked out the window.
“No, they don’t, but her denial can be destroyed by desire, by our honesty and the power of this attraction. Shock and awe may be the ultimate plan of attack against her fears. Break them down, prove our affections and desires. One day at a time, man. One day at a time.”
* * * *
Three days and Mercy was getting pretty comfortable coming over after work, cooking, and taking care of some household chores for the men. The hard part was avoiding their touches, and helping Fort go to and from the bathroom and having to hold him, wrap her arm around his waist and escort him. The man was so desirable, sexy, filled with muscles, and very commanding that she felt like she was having palpitations. Seriously, what woman wouldn’t, being surrounded by such a perfect specimen of male flesh? He even smelled good. Cologne, or soap, she would inhale as much as possible as she walked him to and from, and it seemed like he did the same with her. Here she was, walking him back, her arm around him, his arm over her shoulder and him leaning into her and they walked. He inhaled.
“I love the smell of your shampoo. You smell so good. What is it?” he asked her, and her core tightened. She liked him. Hell, she liked all four men.
Sons of Justice 2 The School Teacher Page 7