Branding & Saving Lily Box Set: Books 1 & 2 (Jacob and Lily's Duet)

by Gracin Sawyer

  “Lean closer,” he whispered.

  As soon as I was close enough, his mouth captured my breast. His tongue teased my nipple while his hand kneaded and cupped the mound. Sounds of rapture slipped past my lips that I couldn’t contain.

  “Let me in,” he groaned against the erect bud, licking the tip.

  Slowly, I arched my back, widening my hips and lowered myself onto him, fully accepting him into me. Jacob. His name was the only word I could think of as he filled me.

  “Fuck me, Lily. You’re so wet.” Jacob growled and thrust his hips up. His hand grabbed my waist and pushed me down fully onto him.

  I whimpered and moved with him.

  He stilled. “Are you okay?”

  I leaned over and kissed him with as much passion as I felt at that moment. My tongue swept his and I pressed deeper. “Mmhm.” How could he expect me to use real words right now? My hips shifted to let his full shaft slide back up inside of me. I cried out again. The intense desire built inside of me, pushing me closer to the edge.

  He moved with me, lifting his hips and running his hand over my body. Harder, faster, he couldn’t get deep enough to sate my mounting desire. Rocking up and down on his shaft, feeling him inside of me, I arched to meet him, giving him all of me. No holding back.

  I ground my hips against his craving more as the rapture pushed past the edge and dove right for my soul. “Jacob,” I cried as my insides exploded in a fury of pleasure.

  Jacob groaned so loudly I thought I’d hurt him and I stopped moving, but both of his hands found my hips and began moving me up and down. I watched as his eyes closed and his jaw clenched tight. Rough growls rumbled from his chest and he breathed my name. He thrust one more time and I could feel him pulsating inside of me.

  “I love you,” he whispered breathlessly. “You’re incredible. That was incredible.”

  “I love you, too.” I went to move off him, but he held me there.

  “Not yet.” He winced as he moved his left arm back to his waist. “I want to feel you. Fuck, you feel so good. Even with the damn condom I can feel your wetness soak me. You don’t know what that does to me.”

  Leaning over I kissed his cheek and made my way to his ear. “I think I know.” I giggled and carefully rolled off him.

  I practically danced to the bathroom, still reeling in euphoria. I cleaned up just as Jacob’s naked frame filled the doorway. I could feel the blush creep up my face and ducked to hide from his view.

  “I thought I told you no hiding from me.”

  I shrugged. “I can’t help it. You are forever making me blush.”

  He wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll forever be doing whatever I can to make you blush.” He pulled back and playfully smacked my butt. “Besides, it’s sexy as hell how you get so heated.”

  I tossed him my best smile and tried to keep the blush from spreading anywhere else. “If you weren’t so sexy, it probably wouldn’t affect me so much.”

  He winked at me, sending my heart into a flurry of sputtering. “You better get out of here and put some clothes on or you’ll be looking at round two.”

  He didn’t budge when I left the room, making me feel all of him along my body. Every inch. Every part. The familiar warmth pooled in my belly. Holy shit, that man had a way of creating a need inside of me that no one else would ever be able to do.

  Clothes. I needed to find clothes. My bag was next to his. The box of condoms still rested on top of the opened bag and I blushed. Gah, I needed to stop doing that.

  Finding clean underclothes, I went back to the bathroom and turned on the shower while he was still cleaning up. I smirked at him as I stepped into the shower and closed the curtain. It didn’t matter how many times we made love, it would always be my favorite time, but this time was special. I had made him come. He gave me the power to move and lead.

  I let the water cascade down my back as I let the memory flood me, needing to replay the event as the echoes of ecstasy filled my chest. A new feeling of strength took over and I felt older. I felt like I could be the woman Jacob deserved.

  This life wasn’t exactly new to me, but I still had a lot to learn and I knew if I was beside Jacob he would teach me. I could do this.

  I was sad when I got out and Jacob wasn’t there. I had half expected him to be waiting for me. Quickly, I slipped on the new garments and towel dried my hair before leaving the bathroom. I padded my way over to Jacob on the bed.

  He opened one eye to watch me cautiously. “You sleep in just those and you’re likely to get raped.”

  I laughed. “Well, I’m not going to bed in jeans. Besides,” I lifted the blanket he was under, “it’s not like you’re wearing anything more.” And he wasn’t. His briefs were the only thing he wore.

  He gestured to the other side of the bed, holding up the blanket on his good side. “Come here, woman.”

  I darted around the bed and climbed in next to him. My hair was still wet, but he didn’t seem to mind as he wrapped his arm around me, holding me close. “Try to sleep. I have a feeling we won’t be getting much after tonight.”

  “Not if you sleep in just those,” I teased, trying to stifle a yawn.

  He chuckled and kissed my head. “Goodnight, Lily.”

  Morning came too quickly. Leaving a bed with Jacob in it was possibly one of the worst things I’d ever had to do. But too many pressing issues needed taken care of for me to be selfish.

  Donning my clothes, I grabbed my holster and tightened it so it fit snugly around my waist. I held my gun that Lupe gave me and studied it. This gun helped me save the man I loved. It was quickly becoming a safety blanket for me and I had no intentions of going anywhere without it again.

  I would no longer be some stupid chess piece for men to play with. I was a stronger woman than I was yesterday, and tomorrow I would be even stronger. I placed the gun in its place at my side and took the brush out of my bag.

  Sleeping with wet hair was a pain in the ass and I was awarded with a glorious mess of tangles. Once finished, the silky strands fell over my shoulders. It was long enough now that it almost touched my bra strap.

  “I love your hair.”

  I jumped at the sound of his voice, not realizing he was awake, let alone watching me. “Well, it’s a mess right now.”

  “Mmm,” he breathed. “I can think of a way to mess it up even more.” He winked at me.

  My heart skipped a beat and I was ready to undress myself just for him to prove his theory, but a knock on the door had me keeping my clothes on. I went to answer the door.

  “Wait,” Jacob said, my ever present protector. He left the bed and went to the door. He grumbled. “Hang on,” he called through the door.

  I questioned him with my eyes.

  “Garcia.” He turned and grabbed his clothes from his bag and pulled his jeans on. He held up the shirt and with one look pleaded with me for help. I giggled and took the shirt from him and helped him into it.

  The sling was still on the floor from the night before, along with our discarded clothes. I swept the room grabbing everything up. I tossed him the sling and my panties from yesterday went with it.

  He held them out with two fingers and grinned wickedly. “If your father wasn’t waiting outside that door, you wouldn’t be picking up clothes, you’d be taking them off.” He flung them back to me. “Hell, I’m not so sure I care who is outside the door.”

  “I can hear you, Cardosa,” Garcia yelled from the hall.

  I dropped the clothes on top of the bags. “I suppose we should let him in now.”

  Jacob growled and opened the door. “Garica.”

  My father entered the room and the first place he looked was the bed. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the fact that my daughter is with a Cardosa.”

  I slipped my arm around Jacob. “Well, you better get used to it because it’s not changing.”

  He let out a harrumph and turned his attention to us. “I think this is a
waste of time. We could be heading back to Nevada where you’ll be safe.”

  I shook my head. “This is the only way I’ll be safe.”

  Garcia frowned. “Look at you, wearing a gun, holding onto Cardosa. I’m afraid you’re not thinking straight. Like he’s gotten inside your head.”

  Everything he said bristled against my nerves. “Jacob saved me. He has done more than you ever have for my safety. If you haven’t forgotten, you’re the reason this started in the first place!”

  Chapter 21

  Jacob

  Not only did I not trust him, but my hatred for Garcia roared its head fully. It was no secret our families had never gotten along. Not even when my father was head of the family. But listening to him talk to Lily this way made a new ugly side of rage boil in my blood. I had already warned him back at Lupe’s, but obviously, he needed something more.

  I’d never felt as protective over anyone the way I did for Lily. Not even for my mother. It was embedded in my soul, like an imprint of a duty given to me before I came to this earth.

  Maybe I should take Lily far away from this world and find a way to keep her safe elsewhere. I couldn’t take the thought of something happening to her. I couldn’t see how I could ever go on a hunt again, knowing I might have to leave her behind. I couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

  Garcia glared at me, but I just smirked and held onto Lily. He was sadly mistaken if he thought I would back down from anything, especially when it came to the woman I loved. “This isn’t fucking right. I raised you. I protected you our whole fucking life! Everything I did was for you. And now, you spread your legs for one man and you think he’ll protect you?”

  White flashes streaked through my vision. Adrenaline pulsed through my body and my fist went hurling toward Garcia’s face. I connected with his jaw and he flew backwards into the door. Again, I swung. The need to pummel him raged through me. “I’ll fucking kill you!”

  “Jacob!” Lily cried for me. Her voice was the only thing to soothe me, calm me just enough to come back.

  Shit. I’d never lost it like that before.

  She touched my arm and I leaned into her. She wrapped her arms around me from behind and kissed my shoulder. “Jacob, he’s not worth it.”

  Garcia clutched his chest with one hand while his other hand covered his jaw. Pure malice dripped off his expression as he glared at me. “You made a fucking mistake, Cardosa.”

  “I don’t think so. Get out.” I opened the door. “Get out before I kill you.”

  He glanced at Lily and scoffed. “You’re just like your mother.”

  I went for him again but Lily grabbed my arm. “Jacob.”

  Garcia snickered, backing out into the hall.

  “Next time we meet, I won’t stop,” I promised.

  Lily closed the door and leaned back against it, releasing a long breath. “Holy shit.” She looked up at the ceiling. “Is it wrong that I wanted you to kill him?”

  I chuckled and grabbed her waist pulling myself to her, resting my forehead to hers. My shoulder protested in anger over my altercation with Garcia. “Then why’d you stop me?”

  “Because a small part of me wants to remember him as a dad. He wasn’t very invested as a father growing up, but he’s blood.” She clenched her jaw and I could see her fighting back tears. “But everything I’ve been through. It’s because of him. I hate him. I really hate him.”

  “I’ll go kill him right now, all you have to do is say the words.” I knew she wouldn’t, but I also meant it. I would kill her father just like I killed mine and not think twice about it. If that’s what she needed, I would do it.

  I’d do anything for her.

  She licked her lips and raised on her tip-toes to kiss me. “Not yet.”

  I released a shaky breath.

  Her hand came to my chest and pushed me back slightly. “How come I get the feeling, you’re mad for just more than what he said?”

  It amazed me how she could already see right through me. “I’ve been thinking that my world isn’t for you. That I can’t protect you from all the scumbags out there while I’m constantly hunting them down. And when Garcia said what he said, I just kinda lost it.” I picked up her hand and brought it to my mouth, kissing her fingertips. “But I promise, I will protect you. Always.”

  Her smile warmed my aching heart. “I know you will.” She paused. “But this world, it’s mine now too. I need to help other women. I need to be with you. I need to be here, a part of all this.”

  I pressed her hand against my chest over my heart. “Lily, if you do this, it’s all in. I can’t do anything half way with you. And I’ll not go easy on training you because to hell if I let you come with me unprepared. You might even have to kill. Do you understand? And my promise still stands, if something happens to you I’ll kill you first, then myself. I can’t live without you.”

  “I know what I’m doing. I know what your world entails. And you better not go easy on me. I want to be able to kick some ass. Besides, I’ve already killed, that means I’ve already been inducted, you can’t get rid of me now.” She leaned forward and placed her face against my chest. “And I hope that you never have to kill me, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it.”

  I hoped the same thing. I choked back my emotions, lodging them in my throat. This was raw. It hurt to even talk about. “Together.”

  “Together. From now on, we do everything together.”

  “Even death,” I jested, but it really wasn’t a joke. This woman was mine and if she died, there was no reason for living.

  Another knock on the door had me on edge. Lily’s eyes went wide and moved so I could look through the peephole. I relaxed. “It’s just Jax.”

  Her small frame visibly let go of tension.

  Opening the door, I looked out and down the hall, half expecting Garcia to still be out there. Jax’s stare followed mine. “What are we looking for, boss?”

  “Garcia. If you see him, let me know.” I sure as hell wasn’t giving that man another chance.

  Jax raised a brow.

  “Come in, I’ll explain later.” I held the door open for him.

  Lily walked over to the bags and began shoving all the clothes into them, zipping them up.

  Jax let the door close behind him, but didn’t move any farther into the room. He eyed Lily cautiously before leaning toward me, speaking low. “We got a lead on Knox this morning.”

  “Shit.” I carved a hand through my hair. “Where is he?”

  “He’s a couple towns over, holding up in some bar in Iguala. Apparently, he’s been a little loose with his tongue. Spreading stories about how he had Cardosa’s woman, and well, I don’t have to paint you a picture of what else.”

  “That son of a bitch!” Was this how it would always be? Someone spreading lies about Lily just because she was mine? Just the thought of hearing those lies roll off his filthy tongue had my stomach rolling. She wasn’t some piece of ass that just gets passed around. She was mine. Always mine. Never his, never Red’s, and never Angel’s. Mine.

  Lily drew up to my side, wrapping her arm around my waist. She gave Jax a sad smile. “It sounds like you guys have been busy this morning.”

  He clicked his tongue and nodded. “Bear and Flapjack are already on their way, scouting ahead of us.”

  “Good. Get the others. We’ll leave in five minutes. It’s a good three hours or more to get to Iguala.” Damn. “What the hell is he doing all the way down there?”

  “We’re ready whenever you are, boss.” Jax walked over and picked up our bags. “I’ll take these out and meet you at the truck.”

  I knew he wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, but just because I was shot didn’t mean I was useless. “Nah, I got em’. Just tell everyone we’re coming.”

  Jax shrugged and set the bags down. “Whatever you say, boss.” He gave Lily a quick nod. “We’ll be at the truck.”

  With Jax gone, a small part of me knew I was being an ass and should have let him help wi
th the damn bags, but I refused to let Lily see me as any less of a man just because I got hurt. Hell, I was much better than a few days ago. I could move my arm now.

  Lily sat on the edge of the bed to slip on her boots. Her tight jeans and snug shirt hugged all the right places. Just watching her had my cock growing. But there wasn’t time for that now.

  I followed her lead and sat next to her while I put my boots on as well. It was a bit harder one handed, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Once done, Lily held up my shoulder holster. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

  I chuckled. “No, probably not.”

  She faked a pout. “But you look so incredibly sexy in it.”

  I grasped her hip and pulled her close to look up at her. “Maybe I’ll wear just that to bed tonight.”

  The crimson blush swept across her cheeks. “Maybe you should.”

  “You are gonna kill me, woman.” I pulled her down to kiss her head and then nodded at the bags. “There’s a spare holster for my waist in there.”

  I stood as she found the holster that fit on my belt and came back to me. Staring right into my eyes, she unbuckled my belt and slipped part of it out from the loops. Fuck, it was sexy as hell. She placed the holster then tucked the belt back around my waist. Her fingers slowed as she came to the buckle, letting the tips slide between the jeans and my skin.

  I stood still, letting her tease me. Damn near ready to toss her on the bed and show her what she was doing to me, but no, I stood there and let her fingers graze my lower abdomen while she buckled the belt.

  I wasn’t sure who started breathing again first, but the spell broke when she pushed herself back to admire her work. “Perfectly in place.”

  Her fingers were dang close to being in the perfect place. “Woman, you are a minx.”

  She giggled and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. I quickly took it from her. “I got it.”

  To hell if I let her carry her own bag, especially after telling Jax no.