I opened the door and hit the light switch on the wall, all the while chronicling all the things I was going to have to teach her to keep her safe. Like keeping a nightlight on when she planned on returning home after dark. The place was neat and cute with lots of color and not a thing out of place. Kind of like her.
I gave the rooms a complete walkthrough, checking under the beds and in closets and any place that looked like it could hide a body. I picked up the wisp of silk she’d thrown over a chair in her bedroom and lifted it to my nose. Her scent went through me like a knife and headed straight for my cock.
My eyes went to the bed and I tried to imagine us rolling around there. I’d break that shit if I did half the things I wanted to do to her on it. No, better save that shit for home; my bed can withstand that shit. Everything looked fine so I went back to her.
“We’re clear.” I held the door open to let them in as my boys stayed in the hallway looking in. “We’ll stay out here tonight and keep watch.” I took a seat outside her door while my brother and our friends took up spots against the opposite wall.
“Are you insane, you can’t stay out here all night.” She sure likes to get huffy.
“Why not? It’s nice and warm in the hallway and like you said, I’m a stranger…for now, so it wouldn’t make sense for you to invite us in considering the circumstances. The only option is for us to stay outside your door and make sure no one gets to you.”
“But…why?” She really didn’t get it. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the deal with the asshole or if she was just that blind, either way I thought it was time to set her straight about just what the fuck was going on here. I got back to my feet and headed inside. “Give us a minute.” Her girls and my boys the nosy fucks were knee deep in our conversation. I took her hand and led her away.
“Listen, first let me apologize for the fact that we don’t have a lot of time to do the usual getting to know you song and dance. My career takes me away a lot and I’m going to be gone again soon. I wasn’t looking for you no more than you were looking for me, but here we are.”
“I’ve never done this shit before so I’m bound to make a few mistakes along the way…and I’m fucking this up. Look, the long and short is, I want you, I took one look at you tonight and my whole world shifted. I might not have been here before but I know enough to listen to my gut and right now that shit’s singing the Hallelujah chorus.” She wasn’t saying a word but she was taking it all in and that was good enough for me for now.
“What I’m trying to say is that there’s something going on here that I think we need to explore. Something that if given a chance I know can grow into something beautiful.” I sound like a bitch.
“How can you know, what makes you so sure?” When she finally spoke her voice was small with a hint of fear. I guess I can’t fault her for playing it safe, as long as she understood that nothing was going to stand in my way of having her.
“How? Because you make me feel in a way I never have and that’s not something I’m willing to walk away from.” She looked so fucking scared as she looked up at me, but there was nothing I could do short of proving myself to her over time, and for that she’s gonna have to let me in.
“I don’t know Wyatt, this is all moving so fast, we only just met and you’re already talking like we’re a done deal, I…” I held my finger up to her lips to silence the rest of whatever she was about to say because it wasn’t going to make a difference.
“I’ll be honest with you, there’s nothing you can do to keep me from having you. The fact that it’s not going to be tonight like I want is minor. So to answer your question as to why I’m staying here tonight to watch over you, it’s simple, I’m on your scent and no one else is getting near you.”
“On my scent, what does that mean?” Pulling her towards me, I wrapped my arms around her and lowered my lips to her ear.
“It means before long you’re going to be under me.” That got her attention and she pulled back as her eyes grew wide.
“Don’t worry about it tonight baby, you need your rest. By the way, you look fucking amazing in that dress, but you can’t leave the house in it again.” Maybe not the wisest thing to say at this junction with one asshole already in her life, but better she know what she was getting herself into with me.
I didn’t give her a chance for rebuttal, just took her hand to head back to the others and then… “One more.” I took her lips with mine and all but inhaled her as I pulled her soft curves into me one last time before the night was done. She melted in my arms and made the sexiest fucking sound I’ve ever heard as I sucked softly on her tongue.
I let my hands rest on her ass but was gentleman enough not to do the rub and squeeze I was dying to, even though my dick was weeping in my jeans. I satisfied myself with just the feel of her pressed against me. Besides, we had an audience and I was sure they were taking it all in.
“Oh yeah, all mine.” I had to steady her as her knees almost gave out under her. “I know how you feel.” My boy almost whimpered when I cut things off there. We headed for the door where I could hear the others speaking in hushed tones. I didn’t say anything about the sudden silence once we returned, just lifted my brow at my brother the ass who grinned at me.
Chapter 4
Wyatt
***
“What were you fools talking about?” The girls had gone in and closed the door while the four of us got comfortable against the wall. When you think about it this was the strangest fucking end to the night. I guess that’s life. Always expect the unexpected.
“You. We were debating whether or not we’re gonna have to help you two get your shit straight, or if we should just let you muddle through on your own.” Chad stretched his legs out and rested back against the wall with his head back.
They let me in on some of what they’d been talking about with her girls, and I was pleased to note that both camps seemed happy for us and whatever this was. My brother liked her, I knew because he wasn’t giving me shit about spending the night in a strange hallway instead of at home in his comfortable bed.
“So Champ looks like you’ve met your match, I don’t remember ever seeing you this gone over a woman, not even that thing in high school.” Cole always hated my high school flame, thought she was stuck up and not worth my time.
The door opened before I could answer and she was standing there with blankets and pillows in her hands. Her hair was wet and she had her tiny frame wrapped in a robe that did nothing to hide her curves. “Damn.” I bit my lip and got to my feet. I stood where I was instead of reaching for her the way I wanted to. Not yet.
“This is silly, the girls think you should at least come in and sleep on the couch or something so…” Before she could finish her statement the others were on their feet and heading past her. I took the stuff from her arms and followed her inside before closing and locking the door behind us.
All the women were in some form of nightwear, but I only had eyes for her. With her face bare of makeup, hair wet from her shower and no heels to add to her height, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. The need to hold her was even stronger now if that was possible.
“You’re in deep trouble babygirl come ‘ere.” I just wanted to feel her one more time before we said goodnight. I ignored the looks from the others as I hugged her before whispering goodnight. Wishing with every fiber of my being that I could tuck her in. “I’ll see you in the morning baby, sweet dreams.”
***
Traci
***
I laid awake in bed for most of the night after I’d silenced my friends and sent them to the guest bedroom where they were staying. Cris had fallen asleep next to me after lecturing me in hushed tones about not blowing this once in a lifetime chance as she puts it.
They all seemed so sure, even his brother and friends, if what the girls had whispered to me about their conversation was true. He too seemed to have made up his mind so I guess I was the only hold out. But
I was also the one who stood to lose the most if things didn’t work out.
My mind of course went to Carl. I think somewhere in my subconscious, I’d known what he was after his first reaction to my gentle let down. I’ve seen enough of those TV true crime shows to know what’s out there, but never thought it would ever happen to me. I’m just not the type to instill that in anyone.
I do all the right things, always have. When mom got sick when I was a little girl, dad and I worked together to nurse her back to health. I didn’t flake out in class the way a lot of my friends did when I reached high school, didn’t do the whole sneaking out at night thing like so many others had. Instead I’d focused really hard on my studies because I knew how hard things were on dad since my family had gone into debt to pay off mom’s medical bills, and I wanted that scholarship to help ease the burden.
We weren’t poor by any means, but all the same I knew that it would make things a lot less stressful on my already taxed parents; and so while everyone else was out doing their thing, being teenagers, I was at home in my room hitting the books.
There hadn’t been any time for dating and teenage hijinks, and I would admit to being just a tad bit sheltered by an overprotective father who’d seen too much pain and suffering with his wife to let his only child out of his sight.
Maybe that’s why even with all those TV shows I was still too green to see the signs when they were in my face. But what about this, what about the way my body seemed to recognize its mate? Was that real, or was it just nothing more than a very strong attraction to a very handsome man?
I turned on my side as my mind raced with my inner thoughts and my stomach hurt. I kept seeing that amazing face and feeling his arms as they went around me. He felt…safe. Like I could trust him to watch out for me. His words were the kind every girl dreams of, and the way he looks at me after just one night, makes me ache in secret places.
I tried to imagine letting go and giving in, what would that be like? Would he keep all those promises his eyes made when they looked into mine? Or would he turn into something else once he got what he wanted? The girls had asked me what I felt and I’d been too afraid to say, but had I-I would’ve told them about the wild racing of my pulse, the tingling in my most secret places and most of all I would’ve told them of the way my heart longed, for the first time in my life.
With one last sigh, I closed my eyes and gave in to sleep, feeling safe knowing he was out there.
***
Wyatt
***
“So what am I dealing with here Jace?” We were spread out across her living room floor for the night and the girls had finally turned in. What kinda danger is he?”
“Well what did she tell you about the situation?”
“Only that they went out once on what she thought was a study date between friends and when he tried to turn it into something more afterward she turned him down and that’s when he got ugly.”
“Ugly how, did he hit her?”
“No, he better not have, she didn’t say that.” I looked in the direction of the bedroom with that new thought planted in my head. The thought of that even happening made me want to commit murder.
“Easy champ, how did she say he got ugly?”
“Well, she says he started with a few phone calls, then escalated to showing up unexpected like he did tonight I guess, and making an ass of himself. He pushed her around a little once, I guess that was ugly enough come to think of it. It scared her but not enough to call the cops.”
“Well, until I look into this hump we won’t know for sure, but he has all the classic signs. It could be that after a little talking to he might move on, but in some cases, and I don’t mean to scare you so don’t go crazy on me, but sometimes it can get really bad before it gets better.”
“I thought so, I gotta do something.” I wanted all the information now but there was no way to do that until tomorrow.
“Bro you just met her, are you sure you want the hassle?” Sometimes if Chad wasn’t my brother and if ma wouldn’t go upside my head, I’d pound him into dust. “Weren’t you the one telling me not too long ago that she seemed like a keeper, that I should go for it?”
The jackass grinned at me and flipped on the TV. “Just checking bro, these things take commitment. All I’m saying is if you’re not planning to stick around with this one it might be better for her if you cut your losses now.” I was this close to killing my mother’s son and realized that my reaction only solidified what I’d been telling myself all evening. I was all in, all the way gone. What a fucking con, how the fuck does that work?
I laid back against the couch and closed my eyes, reliving the evening from the first second I saw her. With the dim drone of the TV in the background and the rustling sounds of the guys settling down for the night, I was finally able to concentrate without interruption.
Chad was right. I needed to be sure that this was going to be more than a wild fling. Everything in me said yes, I had no doubts whatsoever about that. The only thing now was how to go forward. She was the type to take things slow, I can tell. Me, not so much, she’d be lucky if I gave her a week before we fuck.
I know me, and I know that the way she makes me feel, the way my dick reacts to her, no way am I gonna last long. But because she was vulnerable right now, she might require more care. My challenge is working around that without making her feel rushed or uncomfortable.
Was I ready for that? A few hours ago, I would’ve said no, my mind wouldn’t even have gone there. But after seeing her, holding her, tasting her, I knew that as unreal as it may seem, I was more than willing to do whatever it takes. Already I could see her there with me for all my triumphs, failures- life. I could see her as part of me the way I never have anyone else before.
The true test for me was when I imagined her with someone else. I’ve never felt such killing rage, not even in the ring. That was more than enough for me to know. The fact that there was no doubt in my mind pretty much sealed it.
I can’t wait to get her home with me tomorrow, to see her and ma and how the two women reacted to each other. I knew that ma would love her, even though she’d had nothing but contempt for the women I’d been seen with in the last few years since I became famous. Somehow I knew that she’d fall for her as hard as I had. I fell asleep with a strange new feeling in my chest and a lightness that had been missing for way too long.
Chapter 5
Traci
***
“Cris, what the hell?” I brushed the offending fingers from my face as she trailed them down my cheek. When she persisted and didn’t answer, my eyes flew open and met those bright blue orbs.
My scream was somewhere between a scalded cat and a mating coyote I’m sure. His grin when I tried hiding under the covers was not appreciated. “What are you doing in here?” He can’t see me first thing in the morning before I’ve had a chance to put my face on and get the disaster that is my hair under control.
“Getting you out of bed, we have to get a move on Red.” I peeped over the covers at his smiling face. “What are you talking about, go where?” Must he look so good in the damn morning? Actually he looked even better if that were possible.
“My mother is waiting for us to have breakfast.” My eyes almost popped out of my head. Is he nuts we just met the night before what was it with me and attracting these nut jobs? “What are you talking about?” great now I’m repeating myself.
“It’s simple, today is Thanksgiving your girls already told me all you had planned for the day was going out to a nice restaurant later. Trust me, ma’s spread is way better than anything you’re gonna find in a five star joint.”
“I can’t just show up at your mother’s home, are you crazy, we just met remember, what would she think of me?” I forgot all about trying to hide my bedhead. This argument was going to take all my concentration because he’d already proven how stubborn he could be when it came to getting his way.
“Of course you can, besides
, your girls already accepted and it’s not good to make a bad first impression on your mother in law, so up and at ‘em.” He had the nerve to grin at me with his boyish charm. No doubt that usually lets him get away with anything.
“Wyatt…”
“Say that again.” He leaned over me in the bed and I clutched the sheets closer to my neck as I looked up into his twinkling eyes. “What, say what again?” There was a different quality in his voice just then, something that sent warmth to my tummy and a thrill down my spine.
“My name, I like the way it sounds on your lips.” He was serious. “Wyatt.” This time it came out as little more than a whisper and his smile at my acquiescence was sweet, the look in his eyes full of heat and promises.
I felt that place between my legs tingle and swallowed hard when his nostrils flared and his eyes followed a trail down my body as if he somehow knew. “Get out of the bed Traci. Wrap the sheet around you real good first though because if I see what you’re wearing under there, neither of us might make it back to ma’s anytime soon.”
“You could always leave the room.” I said it like a suggestion as my body relaxed and I realized I was enjoying this little byplay with him. I’d forgotten all about being afraid, the whole exchange left me feeling giddy. I was no longer concerned about how I might look first thing in the morning, fresh from sleep. He was already looking at me like I was his next meal so I couldn’t be that bad.
“No, but if you’re not out in five…never mind.” He moved around to the other side and climbed into bed with me. My heart all but gave out, and when he drew me into his arms covers and all, I thought I was gonna go into cardiac arrest. “What…”
“Shh, I just want to hold you.” And that’s just what he did, with my head on his chest and his arms wrapped comfortingly around me, he just held me like we’d done this a hundred times before. I calmed down enough to feel the racing of his heart, and inhaled his manly scent.
The Champ: Bad Boys Book 5 (The Bad Boys) Page 5