Pausing, she took a deep breath, so I knew to brace myself. The hardest part of the story was coming, and I hated that for her. It didn’t seem as though she’d shared this story with many people, if anyone at all. Determined to appreciate the honor she gave me, I stayed silent.
“She forgot to mention her new husband had a seventeen-year-old son. His name is Paul. Paul was the biggest douche I have ever met. He would drop little comments about sex and stuff that I don’t wish to repeat. Don’t get me wrong, I grew up in rough neighborhoods and knew how to take care of myself in most cases. At first, I would give him an earful, but after a while, I realized how pointless it was. I told my mom about the comments and sly touches, but she blew me off, acting as though I was overreacting.”
Reining in my rage was hard as hell, but there was no way I was going to do anything to stop her from talking. I needed to hear this from start to finish. I knew she was skittish and never gave too much away about where she came from, but I never thought she was actively running from something.
Keeping my body as still as possible, I absorbed the information coming out of her mouth like a sponge. I needed every detail in order to stop this shit from continuing to fuck with her life. It would be my mission and my reward to rid her of this nuisance.
Taking slow, controlled breaths helped keep me steady, but I was anything except calm. For months, I had been around Evyn and never knew she was constantly looking over her shoulder.
Unable to stay still any longer, agitation rolling off of her in waves, she got up and started pacing, waving her hands in the air. “But what was I supposed to do when I lived with the threat? How was I supposed to protect myself from my stepbrother when my own mother didn’t think he was doing anything wrong? It didn’t matter that he was never violent. What he was doing was wrong. It was harassment, plain and simple.”
Facing me with tears in her eyes, she stopped moving and stared at me. I sat up quickly and agreed with her wholeheartedly, “Damn right it was.”
No one should feel unsafe or like they are in a compromising position in their own home with someone who was supposed to be her biggest champion. Her mom failed her, but I wouldn’t. You could take that to the fucking bank.
Her wet eyes were killing me, but I leaned against the headboard and waited her out. Opening up her soul to me meant this all had to be on her terms.
She held the tears at bay and stood straight. “He almost touched me once, and that was the only chance I gave him.”
“Motherfucker!” I seethed.
She jumped at the venom in my voice but recovered quickly. She straddled my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck as she shoved her face against my throat. I could feel her battle with the tears fail as wetness leaked down my skin.
Holding her close, I tried to soothe her with my touch, allowing her to get her emotions out without any questions or interruptions. The question and answer portion of this conversation was definitely coming. I needed a lot more information if I was going to find this piece of shit, but I would count my blessings and keep her safe in my arms for the moment.
Seconds, minutes, or hours later, she lifted her head and searched my face. Her fingertips traced my jaw, my mouth, my cheeks, my forehead, her stare intent on her movements. The tears were gone, her face dry, and a soft smile graced her lips.
“You really believe me, don’t you?” she asked in a tone bordering on awe.
“Yes,” I answered immediately.
The relief and gratitude transformed her whole body. That shit pissed me off more. She should have had someone in her corner the entire time; someone who would listen to her and help her do something about it.
“Kasidi was the only one who believed every word I told her and ended up being the one who helped me get away,” she told me softly.
“Who’s Kasidi?” I was whispering, pushing her hair behind her ears as I searched her face.
“The best friend I mentioned who let me stay at her place a lot growing up. We stayed close even when I moved to the other side of town.”
“How did she help you get away?”
“She hit eighteen a few months before I did and found a gig with a band she hooked up with. They were about to tour a few surrounding states, playing in dive bars. She took me along and helped me disappear in another state.”
“Why didn’t you stay with her?”
“We knew she would be the first one questioned when I didn’t go back home. We separated ways in the first big city we landed in. She said about three days after I took off on my own, they had cops there asking about my whereabouts. We decided I wouldn’t tell her where I was going, and she wouldn’t have to worry about slipping up and giving me away. I trusted her, but she said it was for the best.”
“She sounds like a great friend.”
“The best. We still keep in contact. She tours bigger venues now and has gotten pretty damn famous. I’m extremely proud of her. She’s always been talented, and I’m happy she got to go after her dream,” she said, smiling a real smile.
“What band is she in?” I asked, wanting to keep that beautiful smile on her face as long as possible.
“Full Moon Posse,” she answered, and I did a slow blink.
“Full Moon Posse?” I mostly repeated with an undertone of questioning.
They were an awesome band, and I was a huge fan. I had seen them a few times, and they got better with each performance.
“Yes,” she answered, her eyes glittering up at me and the grin still stretching her lips.
After kissing her lips, I pulled back and told her, “Now, we need to get a few things straight between us. You ran from me because you have a stalker, and you didn’t want me to have to carry your so-called baggage.”
“Well -” she began, but I stopped her with a quirk of my eyebrow.
“No,” I gritted out. “You ran from me because you have a stalker, and you didn’t want me to have to deal with that. So, not only did you make a decision for me, but you very obviously discounted my ability to actually fucking help you.”
“I didn’t want to start something with you and have it all go downhill because of some psychopath I brought into your life!” she screamed, trying to scramble out of my lap.
Holding her tightly, I growled, “You’re mine now, Evyn, and I protect what’s mine.”
It might have sounded shitty and slightly alpha male, but it was what it was. I had to get my point across to her. She wasn’t alone anymore. She wasn’t talking to someone who didn’t believe her. Her temper was in place because she was automatically defensive, thinking I was like the other idiots in her life who blew her concerns and fears off as nothing. She was telling me the truth. Some douche bag was seriously stalking her. The fear in her eyes was proof of that, and I would stop at nothing to make sure she was safe.
Her bottom lip trembled, and a single tear fell down her cheek as the fight slowly left her, loosening her body. I stopped the drop of liquid with my thumb and pressed my lips to her forehead, holding her close. Her heavy sigh blew across my neck, and I squeezed my eyes shut, understanding the depth of her relief that I had her back, that I believed her wholly.
Tilting her head back, I held her gaze and told her, “You are safe with me, baby.”
“I know.” Her whispered reply hit me in my heart and soul.
I would admire her trust and belief in me the same as I would cherish her. Being there for her, for whatever she needed, was the most important task I had ever been handed in my life, and I would not fail. Failure was not an option.
“Let’s get some sleep, baby,” I suggested.
“Yeah.” She nodded sleepily.
After getting situated under the blankets, I spooned her body and listened as her breathing evened out. That was what I would strive for, her breathing easily for the rest of her life. Sleep was hard to come by that night
for me. My mind whirred in all different directions.
Having Evyn’s warm body snuggled into mine so trustingly, I knew, above anything else, I would do whatever it took to protect her and have her live the rest of her life free and comfortable wherever she chose to be.
And at the end of it all, I hoped whatever she chose, it would be with me.
Chapter Eleven
Evyn
Waking up slowly, I was a little disoriented and groggy. The scent surrounding me, that distinctive scent I’d dreamed about nightly, so comforting and soothing, had my mind recalling how we came together the night before, and I got hot with the image of my body coming alive for him. Feeling more rested than I had in a long time, I relaxed against him without opening my eyes.
Honestly, I was not ready to face him yet. Last night, I unloaded on him, spilling all the ugliness I had been carrying around. A huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders by sharing with another person. It felt as if I was not alone anymore.
Fear of rejection and disbelief forced me not to tell anyone else what was going on. I could have explained to Bailey or Maya, and they might have believed me. I wasn’t willing to take the chance that they didn’t, though. It hurt when my own mother thought I was exaggerating the situation. I wouldn’t be able to deal if my new friends looked at me like I was a whack job.
A hand tightened on my hip, bringing me back flush against a warm body. Lips brushed my shoulder as something hard rubbed against my butt. As I sank further back into him, I realized this is what I missed after our first night.
The snuggling.
“Morning,” he whispered in a husky, sleep-filled voice.
Damn, that voice was sexy as hell. Stretching like a cat, I didn’t even attempt to tamp down the sigh that bubbled up. Feeling his hands leisurely sliding down my body, I rocked back into his erection, feeling like a siren.
Something changed in me the moment I hooked up with Jaxson, something unusual, something vital. Things shifted within me. I felt confident and powerful being like this with him. I wanted him with desperation every single time we touched. It was like some magical voodoo wrapped around us, melding us together in the most pleasurable of ways.
His fingers trailed up my thigh, brushing my center fleetingly before moving up my abdomen. Arching my back, I tried to get closer to his touch, but he pulled back. The teasing was enough to make me wet, but feeling his whole body against me had me soaked.
“Mmmm,” he mumbled in my ear. “You are so soft.”
“And you’re so hard,” I breathed throatily, rubbing along his length slowly.
Having no flipping clue where this seductress came from, I reveled in it. Fuck it. Jaxson thought I was sexy and made me believe it. There was never a time for me to flirt and be carefree. Jaxson provided me with that opportunity.
Gripping my thigh, he lifted my leg over his hip as I felt his tip brush against my folds. Lifting my pelvis, I was desperate for him to be inside me. He woke up something inside me, something I never had a chance to explore, and I had to hold on to this feeling.
His hand glided along my body, and I could not help except to arch into his touch. His rough fingertips brushed the side of my breast before crossing my stomach softly. With the same feather-like touch, he bumped my clit before spreading my pussy lips, coating his fingers in my juices.
Circling my clit without contact had my skin tightening and my breath escalating. It did not matter how Jaxson touched me, he turned me on each and every time. When he was rough and fucked me like an animal, his passion and desire for me showed. When he was slow and steady, I felt cherished.
“Jaxson,” I gasped as he pressed down on my clit, making tight circles.
“Come, baby,” he growled in my ear, his tone low and gritty.
Having no other choice, I came, and I came hard. My whole body seized up as my breath locked in my chest. There was nothing except white noise as I lit up with an intense pleasure I did not think I could experience. His voice alone had me teetering on edge; throw in his finger on my hot spot and hard flesh rubbing against my butt, and I was done for.
Floating back down to reality, I turned my head and met his mouth. Kissing me tenderly, he gripped my hip and reminded me how hard he still was. Running my tongue along his bottom lip, I smiled at the growl he released.
“Inside, baby,” I urged, making room for him to line up with my entrance.
Sliding into me to the hilt, we groaned in unison. The way he filled and surrounded me felt right and meant to be. I didn’t believe in soul mates, considering the examples in my life, but there was no denying the intense connection we had.
Rocking his hips slowly, he thrust deep, hitting my very extraordinary spot. We created a sensual rhythm that felt like everything.
The only sounds in the room were our heavy breathing and the slapping of skin against skin. It was pleasurable and addicting. Closing my eyes, I sank back into his hold, letting the sensations wash over me.
My head fell back onto his shoulder, and his lips latched onto my neck, creating some awesome tingles that traveled through me. Electrified, my body melded to his and had no plans of escaping.
I figured sex would be enjoyable, but I had no idea just how good it would be. Damn, was it good. I had never felt anything better than this. Maybe it was merely because he was damn talented, but somehow, I knew it was us together.
It was like we were meant to join our bodies together. We fit perfectly. The climb was slow and steady but no less powerful. I could feel the orgasm building higher and higher with each stroke of his cock and swipe of his finger circling my clit.
“Fuck,” he growled in my ear.
The release seemed to go on and on as I lost control of all sounds and movements. Loud keening and harsh jerks were what I was reduced to, and I didn’t have it in me to care even a little bit.
“Can we do that every morning?” I asked as I struggled to catch my breath.
“Yes,” he answered immediately.
For a brief moment, I let myself think about what it would be like to wake up this way every morning, how it would feel to sleep next to him every night. If I didn’t think it was crazy after a very short period of time being together, I would be all over that idea.
I would probably freak him out if I said anything about moving in together, but I couldn’t deny the desire to do just that. He would probably look at me like a psycho clingy chick, and I would never live that down.
It was too soon and too fast, but part of me hated timelines and the restrictions they placed on us. It felt as though my life had been on hold for years, and I craved living each day to the fullest with no regrets.
With a kiss to the back of my neck, he whispered, “Let’s go clean up, baby.”
Almost dozing off, I became aware of the fluid leaking out of me as he pulled out. With a whine, I managed to get out of bed and into the shower. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep, but as Jaxson slowly cleaned my body, I couldn’t deny the contented feeling surrounding us.
Without words, it felt as though we had been doing this forever. It wasn’t about sex in that shower. It was about taking care of each other.
In that shower, I learned a valuable lesson. You could have sex with someone without being open to the other person. Standing naked in front of someone in a brightly lit room with water cascading over you, though, meant there was nowhere to hide.
With sure movements, he soaped my body up with such care that tears filled my eyes because no one had ever taken care of me like this. I felt he genuinely cherished me with his simple acts of kindness.
Hoping the water pouring out of the showerhead concealed my tears, I tipped my head back under the streaming water, letting the spray wash them all away. Blinking the water away, I locked eyes with him and realized there was no hiding anything from him.
He could read me better
than anyone I had ever met before. If I weren’t so damn grateful to have someone to lean on, I would be freaking the fuck out. Things were moving at warp speed, and I didn’t know if I had the energy to keep up.
Surrendering was not an option for me, but with Jaxson, it might have been the only choice. The blue in his eyes darkened in intensity, making me aware once again there was more to him than the fun, flirty bartender.
Cupping my face with his hands, he leaned in and gently swept his lips against mine, brushing his thumbs across my cheeks. Pulling back, he tipped my head again before methodically shampooing and conditioning my hair.
His strong fingers against my scalp had sighs escaping my mouth. Tingles spread where his hands touched, and I never wanted it to stop. I would gladly allow him to wash my hair for the rest of my life.
“Let’s go lay down for a little longer,” Jaxson suggested once I lazily opened my eyes. “It’s still early.”
Having no sense of time or anything else outside of the bubble we were encased in, I could only nod my head in acceptance. There was no way I was completely functioning after the work out we had this morning or the relaxing shower where all I had to do was relax and enjoy it.
Turning off the water, he stepped out of the stall to grab a couple of towels. Watching him dry off briskly, I was in a trance. The man was absolutely stunning. Smooth, tanned skin covered with tattoos.
Swiping my tongue along my bottom lip, I imagined tracing the grooves of his abs down his happy trail with my tongue before taking him in my mouth. I hadn’t gotten to do that yet, and I craved it. I might have never done it before, but Jaxson made me want to learn.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Jaxson snarled, forcing my gaze to snap to his.
I could feel the heat on my cheeks, clearly blushing with embarrassment at getting caught ogling him. That embarrassment faded with the pleased glint in his eyes along with the desire I saw.
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