Storming the Castle (Dale Series)

by Arianna Hart

  “Why’d you keep the phone? He’s been dead, what, six years?”

  “Almost six and half. I don’t know why I kept it. Maybe to remind me not to be a naive idiot ever again. I trusted Matthew with everything I had. I never so much as looked at another man. For all I know, he was screwing around the whole time he was away at college, too.”

  “Then he was a fool.”

  “I was the fool, but I’ve come a long way since then. I’d recently decided to get rid of the phone. I-I just need it for one thing, then I’m going to use the circular saw on it. He loved his phone, so it’ll be a symbolic severing.”

  He winced, imagining what she would rather sever on her bastard of a husband.

  “I just don’t get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “Why? I mean, if he wanted to play bondage games, he could have asked me. I loved him so much I would have at least tried it. But he never even brought it up. Why did he have to go looking somewhere else to get his kicks?”

  His mind had stuttered to a halt when she mentioned bondage games. The image of Faith bent over with her luscious ass up in the air and her hands tied was burned into his imagination. It was all he could think about. He didn’t know how long she’d been waiting for an answer before he dragged his few still functioning brain cells out of the sea of lust they were drowning in and replayed her question.

  “Uh, I can’t answer for your rat bastard of a husband. All I can say is some guys are out to get their rocks off wherever they can. I’ve seen men dating supermodels who would accept a blow job from a groupie just because she was there. I’ve also seen men who stayed loyal despite all temptations. And trust me, in my line of work, there are a lot of temptations.”

  “I’m sure. What about you?”

  “What about me? Have I ever cheated? Not once. My old man might not have been a great father, but he was as loyal as fuck. My mother died over twenty years ago, and he still hasn’t had a serious relationship. As much as I fought against everything he stood for, something of what he taught sunk in. When I give my word, I keep it.” Which was why he avoided commitments like the plague. If he didn’t make any promises, he couldn’t break them.

  “I was thinking more about the bondage thing. Do you find that sexy?” Her face turned bright red.

  She was so damn cute, standing barefoot and probably bare assed in front of him after they’d just had mind-blowing sex, and blushing because she asked him if he liked a little kink. He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. He felt something he hadn’t even known was missing click into place in the region of his heart as she nuzzled into him.

  “I’m not gonna lie, I’ve tried just about everything there is to try when it comes to sex.”

  “No? You? Really? I would’ve never guessed.”

  “Be quiet, smart-ass. What I’m trying to say is, after a while, it gets kind of, well, not boring exactly, but…routine. Playing games added some spice to the same old same old.”

  “So you’ve tied someone up and insulted her? Did it turn you on?”

  “Ah, well. Hmm.” How the hell did he answer that? “I barely remember it. I know I didn’t like it enough to keep doing it, if that means anything.”

  “It does. It means a lot.”

  She wiggled a bit, and his dick stiffened on cue.

  “Can I tell you something?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  “When I figured out who you were and who you’d dated, I almost ran for the hills.”

  “What? Did you think I had some crazy venereal disease? I’ve been insanely careful since I was fourteen. Even if a girl has said she’s on the pill, I always use a condom. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about that. Which I guess goes to show you I’m still a naive idiot. No, all I could think about was that you’ve had the most beautiful women in the world throwing themselves at you, and here I am, a thirty-year-old mother who just got her first haircut in six years. I’m overweight and don’t even own any sexy lingerie. The thought of you seeing me naked scared the pants off me. Or on me, as the case may be.”

  “Are you serious?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I’ve been panting over you almost from the first second I saw you, and you were worried because you didn’t have fancy underwear?” He skimmed his hand up her thigh and got even harder when he felt her shiver.

  “You’ve dated the swimsuit model of the year.”

  “And if I never see her again, it’ll be too soon.” He ran a hand through his hair, once again at a loss for a way to say what was in his heart. “Yes, I’ve dated models, and actresses, and other people who are professionally pretty. I’ve also dated waitresses, lawyers, and a nurse. The women who stick in my mind are not necessarily the ones who are on the covers of magazines. Looks may draw me in, but I’m old enough to know that there has to be something more there.” God, this was coming out all wrong.

  “So you’re saying you’ve never hooked up with someone just because she was hot?”

  “I am not answering that.”

  Faith laughed and turned to straddle him. “I was just teasing. I get what you’re saying, and I appreciate it. Women are hard on themselves, and I can be my own worst critic.”

  “Don’t be. You’re the most beautiful woman I know, inside and out.” He absolutely meant it, too. Something about her, the goodness she carried within, shone through her. “Especially without this ugly T-shirt on.”

  Before she could protest, he whipped his shirt over her head. Cupping her generous breasts, he lifted them to his mouth so he could feast.

  “The condoms are upstairs,” Faith said with a groan as her head fell back.

  Her long hair tickled his thighs, bare from where his boxers had ridden up. The sensation was like a hundred tiny fingers stroking him, and he knew he wasn’t making it back up the stairs.

  “Later, let me pleasure you now.”

  “Not this time,” she murmured, sliding off his lap to kneel between his thighs. “I didn’t get to play with you at all last time. It’s my turn now.”

  She tugged at his boxers, and he raised his hips so she could get them off. Looking at her beautiful face so close to his cock drove all the blood from his head to his groin. The smile she sent him, one part fascination and one part pure female appreciation, made him groan aloud.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve done this, so I might be a little rusty,” she whispered against the head of his shaft.

  “I’m sure it’ll all come back to you.” He arched his hips in pleasure as she drew his length into her hot mouth.

  Sweet Jesus. She cupped her breasts around his cock as she drew him back and forth in her mouth, and the sight damn near undid him right then and there. It was the first time in a long time he’d had no barrier between his skin and a woman’s mouth. He’d forgotten how intense the feeling was. She flicked her tongue over the tip and scraped her teeth gently along the side. The pleasure was so incredible, so overwhelming, he had to fight to hold back his orgasm.

  The pressure built, drawing his balls up tight, but he didn’t want it to end. When she looked up at him, emotion swimming in her eyes as she drew almost his entire length between her lips, he couldn’t hold back. The wave of ecstasy rolled over him again and again. He felt like it would never stop, and if it did, he wouldn’t survive it.

  …

  Faith sat back on her heels and admired the scene before her. Sam’s head was thrown back against the couch, his mouth open and gasping, and his beautiful cock hanging heavily between his legs.

  She’d completely wrecked him.

  Hell, yeah, I am woman, hear me roar. She’d never minded giving Matthew blowjobs, but for the first time, she could say she actively enjoyed it. Something about the look of utter satisfaction on Sam’s face made her feel like she could climb mountains or conquer the world.

  She stretched with feigned nonchalance and felt another tremor of pride and pleasure as
his gaze fastened on her breasts. “I think I’ll head back to bed.” She yawned. “It’s late, and everyone and their brother will be at the house tomorrow to see what happened. You can keep working if you’d like.”

  Getting to her feet, she smiled like a cat with cream as he continued to watch her with a slightly glazed expression. “G’night.” She sauntered off, putting a little extra wiggle in her step. When she got to the stairs, she glanced over her shoulder at Sam. He was still sitting on the couch looking like he’d been smacked between the eyes with a baseball bat.

  It wasn’t until she was halfway up the stairs that she heard him move. He let out a curse as he banged against something and she smiled again because she was the reason he’d lost his usual grace. She might have stretch marks and a twenty-dollar haircut, but she just slayed him, and it felt great.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sadie’s whimpering woke Faith from the most delicious dream. Her body was languid and satisfied in a way it hadn’t been in years. She opened her eyes as Sadie pressed her wet nose onto her bare shoulder.

  Wait, her bare shoulder?

  Reality slapped her, and she shot upright. Sam lay sprawled out over the majority of the bed, his muscled chest naked above the white sheet. Her clothes were scattered over the floor along with condom wrappers.

  Holy crap. Had they really had sex three times? Yup, there were all three wrappers. The muscles between her thighs felt slightly sore, and her breasts were reddened from Sam’s beard. That man surely loved to rub his face between her boobs. A lightning bolt of heat slammed into her as she remembered rubbing his cock between them.

  She and Matthew had had a pretty good sex life, at least that’s what she’d thought. But last night was… She didn’t have words to describe it even to herself. It was like the difference between a Cadillac and a Ford Fiesta. Both cars could get you to where you wanted to go, but there was a huge difference in the quality of the ride.

  Sadie nudged her again, and Faith realized it was almost eight o’clock. She was usually up by six in the morning. Poor Sadie was probably starving to death. Taking one last look at Sam, she slipped out of the bed and gathered her things.

  It didn’t take long to stuff everything into the pillowcase he’d packed for her last night, and in mere minutes, she was tip-toeing out of the cottage. She felt bad just leaving, but Sadie needed her breakfast, and half the town would be dropping by today to check on her. She had to be showered and looking presentable before they all arrived.

  It wouldn’t do to have them show up while she was in bed with Sam, no matter how much she’d love to have one last round.

  They were out of condoms anyway.

  She couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she thought of him and their night together. He’d been ferocious in his need of her, but also so gentle and caring it brought tears to her eyes. When they weren’t making love, he stroked her skin and pressed gentle kisses on her head, like she was something delicate. Like she was precious. She hadn’t felt so cared for in years, and she hadn’t realized how much she missed it.

  The ground was rough under her bare feet, but the walk back to the house was short. Her ankle twinged a bit as she made her way along the path, but it would be fine with a few ibuprofen. It was already getting hot out. Today would be another scorcher, that was for sure. Still, people would want coffee. She needed to get cleaned up and dressed before she tackled the mess in the living room, but she’d start a pot of coffee first.

  Her mind whirled with all the things she needed to do, but she kept getting distracted by memories of last night. When she was in the shower, she saw bruises along her thighs, and it reminded her of Sam thrusting between her legs as she screamed for more. Her skin felt etched by his touch.

  Walking into the living room and seeing the mess in the bright light of morning helped yank her back into reality right quick. The drawers from the little registration desk in the corner were on the ground, their contents scattered. Papers were everywhere and broken glass crunched under the sandals she’d donned. Her throat tightened, but she shoved down the tears. No one was hurt, and nothing here was damaged beyond repair. Sam didn’t think the thief had time to steal anything, but she’d check just in case.

  By the time Sadie let out her warning woof, she had the room put back to rights and was just putting a breakfast casserole on the counter to cool. Faith peeked out the window to see J.T. McBride climb out of a police cruiser. She wiped her hands off and got out another mug for coffee.

  “Come on in,” she called out as she heard his steps on the porch.

  “Mornin’. Something smells delicious,” he said as he joined her in the kitchen.

  “It’s just a quick casserole with bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns, and cheese. Can I scoop you up a plate?”

  “If it’s not too much trouble. I had a cup of coffee at the station, but Nadya isn’t much for breakfast these days.”

  “Oh Lord, I remember. My first trimester, just the mention of food was enough to have me running to the nearest toilet.”

  “Her, too. I hope it goes away soon. I hate seeing her so sick.”

  “It should. Just remember how often she threw up every Mother’s Day.”

  J.T. laughed and dug into the breakfast plate Faith placed in front of him. While he concentrated on eating, Faith started a batch of cookies. She didn’t think she’d have time to make brownies, but she could whip up a few dozen chocolate chip cookies in no time.

  “That was the finest breakfast I’ve had in ages, Faith. If Nadya’s morning sickness continues, I might just make it a point to stop by here more often.”

  Faith laughed. “The door is always open. Come by anytime.”

  “Speaking of open doors, have you had a chance to see if anything is missing?”

  “I went through the living room this morning, and everything seems to be here. Most of what I keep in the desk there are brochures and blank rental forms. The real business paperwork is in the desk in my bedroom. This one is more for show than business. The computer wasn’t touched. It’s all so strange.”

  “I’m sure there’s a rational explanation for it. We got a couple prints last night. I’ll set Parker on the task of sorting through any possible matches.”

  “I still can’t believe he’s married now. With that red hair and baby face of his, he looks barely old enough to drive.”

  “Hell, I remember him before he was old enough to drive. It’s still a shock when I see him behind the wheel of the cruiser. Speaking of, he’s going to be swinging in this direction more often on his patrols, as will Grant who’s on the night shift this week. If anything feels off, don’t wait, call 9-1-1 right away.”

  “I can’t imagine whoever it was would be dumb enough to come back, do you?”

  “No, but you never know. Better safe than sorry. Just call. It’ll give the boys something to do besides chase teenagers necking in the woods.”

  “Okay, fine. If I get spooked, I’ll call right away. Happy?”

  “As a matter of fact, I am. Are you going to Mary Ellen’s tomorrow night?”

  “The bonfire, I totally forgot. I’m not sure. With the break-in and…everything else going on, I don’t know if I’m in much of a celebratory mood.”

  “You mean your in-laws? That’s a load of crap, if you ask me.”

  “It really is. I get all worked up every time I think about it.”

  “Then come to Mary Ellen’s and stop thinking about it. There’s nothing you can do about it now, no sense worrying yourself sick.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “It always is.” J.T. drank the last of the coffee in his cup and moved to collect his plate.

  “Here, I’ll take that.”

  “Thanks. I’ll finish writing up the report today, and you can read it over and sign it when you come into town next time. No rush. I’ll let you know if we turn up anything.”

  “I appreciate it. You should pick up some peppermint tea for Nadya. It really h
elps with the morning sickness.”

  “I’ll do that. Take care.”

  Faith walked J.T. to the driveway. No sooner had he pulled out of the driveway, another car pulled in. Good thing she’d gotten the cleaning done already, it was going to be a long day.

  …

  The smell of Faith’s perfume and sex teased Sam’s senses as he awoke from the best sleep he’d had in forever. Lazily, he reached out an arm to draw Faith to him and felt nothing but the sheet. Cracking one eye open, he looked for her, as if she was so small he wouldn’t find her with just his seeking hand. Nope, no Faith.

  He listened, maybe she was downstairs. The cottage was quiet except for the hum of the air conditioner.

  Well, shit.

  It wasn’t like this was the first time he’d woken up alone after a night of jungle sex. In fact, it was more the norm than the exception. When he was with Bridgette, she quite often had early morning shoots and was gone long before he surfaced. In the old days, when he’d hook up with someone after a show, he made sure they were gone before he went to sleep.

  But for some reason, waking up alone after last night with Faith hit a sour note with him. He didn’t necessarily want to have sex again—not that he’d turn it down if she was willing—but it would have been nice to pull her close and feel her lush body against his.

  Who’d have thought he’d turn into a cuddler? Maybe he just hadn’t had the right woman to cuddle.

  He climbed out of bed and stretched. Damn, he felt good. And hungry. Maybe Faith had gone back to the house to make breakfast. That would be just like her. J.T. said he’d stop by this morning, too. Knowing her, she’d want to clean the house before he got there.

  He’d take a quick shower and then head over to the house to see if he could cage some breakfast. After that, he’d have to see about getting more condoms, because one night with Faith wasn’t nearly enough.

  A melody teased him as he washed his hair. As soon as he got out of the shower, he tapped the beat out on the bathroom sink. His head was swirling with music, and he couldn’t wait to play with it. Should he go to Faith or chase after his muse? He’d been blocked for so long, it was tempting to pounce on the start of the song and ignore everything else.