Guns & Smoke

by Lauren Sevier

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” He forced the breathless words against my mouth, his hand cradling my face. I finished with the buttons and slid the shirt over his shoulders.

  “Idiot,” I said, pulling back to tug my shirt over my head and tossing it to the floorboards. “You would never hurt me.”

  His blue eyes roamed my pale skin without restriction, lingering in places I didn’t expect. Like the scar on my arm and the pulse thumping erratically in my neck. His fingertips brushed against my flesh, the touch so soft it raised goosebumps in its wake. They traced the jagged pattern of scars crisscrossing over my ribs reverently.

  “Tell me,” he said softly. I swallowed down my self-consciousness as his eyes mapped the area adoringly.

  “Belt buckle. For stabbing a mark that got too close,” I said between ragged breaths. He dipped his head down and kissed the scars. His fingers traced up my spine to the back of my left shoulder where his deft fingers found a round scar, raised and pink.

  “Here?” he asked, without judgment or reprisal.

  “Cigar. Just because,” I choked out as he kissed the ugliness away.

  When he reached the scar on my arm, I stilled, heart thundering. His fingers mapped the gnarled skin followed by the gentle brush of his lips.

  I felt that kiss in every part of me.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, and I believed him.

  “Make love to me,” I begged. My fingers buried in his hair, raising those blazing blue eyes back to mine. I kissed him slowly as his hands unclipped my bra and pulled the straps from my shoulders. He wrapped a strong arm around my waist before shifting us together, pressing my back against the hot leather seat.

  He raised his head to look at me, lost in desire beneath him, and pulled gently on my pants and underwear until I was naked below him. His eyes shifted to the bandage on my hip, but only for a moment. He leaned down and trailed his mouth down my neck. The contrast of his soft lips and the rasp of the stubble on his cheeks was a dizzying sensation. He sucked my nipple into his mouth until he tore a cry from my lips. Then he moved down the midline of my body, his tongue tasting my skin. My back arched to guide him lower, between my thighs, as I tucked my fingers firmly in his hair.

  “You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to taste you,” he said, staring directly between my legs and inhaling deeply. “I want to drown in you.” He nipped the inside of my thigh.

  He stared up at me then, a smile curled onto that wicked mouth. His arms wrapped around my thighs and Jesse buried his face against me with a groan. My nails scraped against his scalp, and I moaned his name, begging for more, for everything. He devoured me like a starving man. His tongue paid special attention to the spot that forced a scream from my throat. Slick heat settled into my blood and grew hotter with every rapid beat of my heart.

  “Please,” I begged him. “Please.”

  I threw my head back, eyes closed in rapture, as my pleasure began to crest.

  “No, you don’t,” he said, and the words rumbled against my flesh. “I want to watch you.”

  A moment later he raised his head, eyes dark with a hunger that threatened to consume me whole. He undid the front of his jeans, pushing them down hurriedly before settling the hard length of his desire exactly where I wanted him. I arched my hips impatiently, but he stretched his body long over mine, settling his weight on top of me. Our hot breaths mingled as he pressed forward slowly enough to draw out my pleasure. All while he watched my every expression. I gasped as the sweet friction took hold of me, hooking my legs around his waist until he was buried all the way to the hilt.

  We paused, bodies tensed, finally joined together. I wanted more. I wanted to be closer, wanted him deeper. Wanted this to last forever. Until I couldn’t tell where I began and he ended.

  My nails scraped down his back, and he shifted his hips, building a steady rhythm. We fit together seamlessly, our bodies working in perfect synchronicity. I was made for this man. The slick heat in my blood flared into brilliant light as he guided us toward the precipice of a pleasure I’d never known before. I screamed his name, and he whispered mine against my hair, my impatient body arching to meet his. Hearts thundering, we writhed together as his control broke and he set a pounding cadence. Until I couldn’t hold on any longer, until the heat threatened to consume me, then I was falling, faster and faster, and my mind shattered. With a harsh last push, he cried out into my mouth, and we both fell into a heap of sweat-slickened flesh. I trembled in his arms, and he pressed short kisses to my feverish skin, worried eyes finding mine.

  His hands were on my face, thumbs brushing wetness from my cheeks.

  “Are you alright? Did I hurt you?” he asked through heaving breaths. I shook my head, pressing a mindless kiss to his open mouth. “Then why are you crying?”

  “I didn’t realize it was possible to be this happy,” I managed to say, and he kissed me for a long time. Until I was breathless again for another reason entirely.

  “Let’s see what I can do about making you that happy again,” he said, his wicked grin curling onto his lips.

  And he did.

  Many times.

  Chapter Thirty - Jesse

  The sky was painted in dark oranges and reds when I stirred awake. A chill in the air made me tug up the blankets to cover myself and Bonnie. At some point during the night, we’d moved from the cab of the truck to the bed of it. I was glad we still had the bedrolls.

  Bonnie folded against me, her back flush against my chest. I curled around her, hoping that our shared body warmth would shake the chill. She stirred long enough to arch her back and then went still once more.

  I couldn’t have gotten more than a couple hours of sleep. I’d give up sleep altogether if it meant I had more nights of that. Of worshipping Bonnie’s body to the brink and over it again and again.

  I’d been with women before, but it had never felt like that. I’d never felt so seen by a person, so loved. Ever since Vegas, I’d wanted her body; there was no denying it. I hadn’t realized how much I’d wanted her heart.

  Now that I had it, I was never letting it go.

  One of my hands trailed lazily across the plane of her stomach and up her side. My touch was gentle. I didn’t want to wake her up. Yet.

  My deft fingers slid up to her neck, then across her shoulder and down her arm. I entwined my fingers with hers, inhaling the scent of rain and salt on her skin. I hadn’t had nearly enough time to worship her body. With the sun rising, I knew that we’d eventually have to return to the base, but I wasn’t ready yet. I wanted to keep her to myself a while longer.

  I let go of her hand, my fingers finding their way across her thigh and around to her ass. I smiled into her hair, drawing lazy circles along the curve of it. My lips found the soft spot beneath her ear. I kissed her gently enough that it would start waking her up. Then my hand moved to the apex of her thighs, my fingers exploring her already slick desire.

  Bonnie took in a sharp, sleepy breath. I smiled against her shoulder, watching as her eyes fluttered open. She leaned back into me, suddenly remembering I was there. A lazy smile found its way to her lips. She opened her mouth to say something, but I didn’t let her. I covered her mouth with my own, my hand still working slowly between her legs. She rolled to her back, giving me better access, and her hands found purchase in my hair.

  I picked up my pace, enjoying how her hips bucked against my hand. I smiled, pulling back to trail kisses along her jawline. She took in a sharp breath and whispered my name into the silent morning. I flicked my tongue across her skin until I reached her breasts. My teeth paid gentle attention to her nipple until it stiffened into a peak. A moan slipped from between her lips, sending goosebumps prickling along my flesh.

  I could do this all day.

  In the past, with women the goal was to get mine. With Bonnie, it was different. Sure, it was nice, but it wasn’t necessary. There was something about how intimate this felt that gave me the satisfaction I needed.

>   Bonnie’s breaths came in short gasps, her hips bucked against me. She pulled my head away from her breasts and pressed a hot kiss to my lips. Her skin was moist with sweat. I could tell by the look in her eyes what she wanted. I’d have more time to play later.

  I moved back behind her, my hand reaching for her thigh and lifting it to give me the access I wanted. I pressed kisses to her shoulder blade as I pushed into her. Her wet heat enveloped me, consuming my body as she’d consumed my heart. She was more than I could have ever wanted. No one could ever compare to Bonnie. Her hand fisted my hair again, locking me against her. The first few times last night were rushed. I wanted to take my time, wanted to enjoy the soft curves of her body, how she met my enthusiasm with equal fervor.

  She was fire. She was chaos. But she was mine.

  Bonnie reached back, her nails digging into my thigh as I quickened my pace. It would leave a mark, but I didn’t care. I kissed her neck, grazing my teeth along the sensitive skin there. She grabbed my head and pulled me to kiss her, slowing my movements. We parted for just a moment, and then Bonnie turned toward me, shifting her weight on top of me. Within seconds, the tables turned, and she straddled me.

  She sat straight up, her hips setting a rapid pace. Her entire body was on display, her hair waving in a gentle morning breeze. I reached up, teasing her breasts as she ground herself against me, the friction bringing us higher and higher. The sunrise peeked over her shoulder, painting the sky in an explosion of golds and oranges.

  Before long, we were making noise loud enough to wake up the entirety of Fort Hood.

  I reached a hand between her legs to the sweet spot there, and she cried out, her thighs clenching against me as her pleasure crested. I watched, a contented smile on my face as she slowed to a near stop.

  Then, taking her into my arms, I rolled her over, her back pressed into our bedding. I kissed her long and slow, pulling almost all of the way out before slamming back into her. She whimpered against my mouth. That familiar pressure built low in my belly. I broke my lips from hers, biting down on her shoulder harder than I intended. My release took me, stars bursting in my vision. Chest heaving, I slowed to a stop, my entire weight fitting perfectly against her.

  When my breathing evened, I pulled back long enough to lay beside her in the bed of the truck. I kissed her again, brushing her unruly hair out of her face.

  “Good morning,” I said, the first words I’d spoken since last night. Bonnie brought a hand up to my cheek.

  “You bit me,” she said, the corners of her mouth turning upward. I grinned and kissed her lips.

  “Yeah, sorry about that,” I murmured against her mouth. When I pulled back, a brilliant smile crossed her face.

  “Why? I liked it.”

  I barked out a laugh. “I’ll remember that,” I said, kissing the soft spot beneath her ear. Bonnie raised her eyebrows at me.

  “I bite back,” she said, her eyes glimmering at me.

  “Good,” I remarked.

  I wanted every morning to wake up next to her like this. I wanted to drink coffee and have breakfast with her and The Kid. I wanted to be with her, wherever that may be. If she wanted to travel the world, we’d go.

  “They’re probably worried about us,” I said, unable to hide the smile on my lips. I knew we would have to go back soon, but not yet. Bonnie stretched, her breasts pressed against my chest. I ran a hand down her back to her ass, giving it a gentle squeeze. She settled into the blankets and closed her eyes.

  “Probably,” she said.

  This could be dangerous, I realized. Because I didn’t want to get up, and I could tell Bonnie didn’t either. I chuckled.

  “We should figure out what’s next,” I said. Bonnie’s blue eyes blinked open. “You know, if we wanna stay here, or go somewhere else.”

  “Well, I just wanna stay here,” she said, snuggling further into my neck. I brushed a kiss against her jaw.

  “You know what I mean,” I said. “Fort Hood... or somewhere else.”

  There were a lot of things up in the air right now. I’d thought that when we met my uncle, he would be able to give me a new goal. Now that we’d made it, I wasn’t sure what my purpose was. I’d never planned on him not knowing what to do. Instead, all Mickey wanted was to drink his sorrows away.

  “We could make a life here,” I said, my eyes glazed over as I thought back to yesterday afternoon, with everyone hanging out in Mickey’s backyard.

  “You want to make a life with me?” Bonnie asked, trepidation and excitement warring in her eyes.

  “Mickey said Jones wouldn’t come here, if that matters. He said he’d kill Jones if he tried.” I hoped that would at least give her some measure of comfort. I also knew that she’d never settled in one place. “Or... that city—”

  “Jesse,” she said. “Shut up.” She smiled before kissing me. “I don’t care. Not as long as I’m with you.”

  Maybe in some ways, I’d become her home like she’d become mine.

  “God, I love you,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her. I kissed her again, quickly finding that my desire for her was still there, just beneath the surface. “But if we don’t get up, we’ll never make it back.” Bonnie groaned, burying her face in the crook of my neck. She hooked a leg over mine.

  “Not yet,” she said, kissing my neck. Her fingertips played with the hair on my chest. It would be all too easy to fall into her, but we had to get back.

  Begrudgingly, I disentangled myself from Bonnie. She staged a silent protest while I gathered our scattered clothes and dressed myself. I tried to start the truck, but it wouldn’t even turn over. When I lifted the hood, the char marks on the engine told me everything I needed to know. Bonnie joined me, slipping on her shirt as she looked beneath the hood.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “It’s done,” I said. “We’ll have to walk.” I took her hand in mine, and we headed off. The sun was getting high by the time we reached the gates. A couple of cheers sounded from the guards, but we ignored them. Instead, Bonnie and I shared a smile and kept walking. We ran into Gabriela as we approached Mickey’s house.

  “Hi, I brought breakfast,” she said, slinging her gun over her shoulder. “Bonnie, I wanted to talk with you. Do you have a minute?”

  Bonnie glanced at me and shrugged, releasing my hand. I kissed her quickly, then watched as she walked away with Gabriela. She, at least, seemed like a good person. She had to be in order to put up with Mickey.

  Loud talking filtered out of the screen door before I made it into the house. I paused, smiling to myself. Bonnie hadn’t said no when I’d told her we could make a life here. When I entered the kitchen, all conversation suddenly stopped. Will, Clara, Mickey, and The Kid stared at me.

  “Where’s Bonnie?” The Kid asked. I shook my head and ruffled his hair as I walked past him to see what was for breakfast.

  “Talking with Gabriela,” I said, filling up a plate with freshly made biscuits, bacon, and eggs. I turned back to the table. Everyone still stared at me. “What?”

  “Good for you, Montana. Maybe now you won’t have so many violent tendencies. I always thought all you needed a good fu—”

  Clara punched Will in the shoulder, motioning toward my brother with her head.

  “Where were y’all?” The Kid asked. I stuffed my mouth full of eggs to give myself time to come up with an appropriate excuse.

  “We went for a drive,” I said after swallowing my food. “Truck broke down.”

  “And it took all night to fix it?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

  “Eat your breakfast, Kid,” I said. He grinned in response.

  “Mickey was telling us about the operations around here,” Clara said. I appreciated her attempt to get the conversation going again. Mickey picked right back up. I ignored him and dug into my breakfast, eating until my belly was overfull, because we’d missed dinner last night.

  I finished eating and, since Bonnie wasn’t back yet, decided to take
a shower. The hot water was a nice change from bathing in streams and lakes. My mind ran back to our night together under the stars, remembering all of Bonnie’s little quirks, like when she bit her bottom lip. That damn lip.

  A hand touched my back as the water ran down my skin. When I turned, Bonnie slid her arms around my waist, pressing her head into my chest. Pleasantly surprised, I wrapped my arms around her naked body. She pulled back a moment later, a mixture of mischief and desire written in her eyes. I didn’t believe she could ever stop surprising me. That just her very presence could set my soul ablaze. When I lifted one of her legs around my waist and kissed her, she whispered those words against my lips.

  I love you.

  The water washed over us like rain after a drought, cleaning away the dust and bringing in life anew.

  We didn’t have plans. It was nice, for once. We could enjoy each other instead of having to worry about danger lurking around the next corner. Once we were out of the shower, Bonnie talked about her conversation with Gabriela. I shaved the stubble from my chin, listening as she explained that Gabriela wanted to recruit us. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I didn’t want to end up like Mickey, but it would be nice to have a place to put down roots again.

  “I mean, with extra defenses, we could make Fort Hood like St. Louis,” Bonnie said, her voice animated with passion. She slipped on those shorts I loved so much. I appreciated the curve of her ass. “It could be a safe haven. Families could come here. We could reopen the school. Maybe set up a trading post. A market day.” She realized I was staring at her and snapped her mouth shut. “What?”

  “I love it,” I said. I tugged her against me by the belt loops on her shorts. I’d never seen her so excited about anything. Her smile was infectious. My heart felt lighter in my chest, realizing that she wanted to stay here. With me. I tucked her wet hair behind her ear, giving her a swift kiss. Bonnie made a sound of disgust, wiping at the shaving soap I’d gotten on her face. I took her chin in my hand, then ran my tongue up the length of her cheek to wipe it away. She smacked me in the shoulder, making me laugh.