Dangerous Beauty (O'Connor Brothers Book 4)

by Rhonda Brewer

  “First of all, Mrs. Bradshaw is going to be fine.” The doctor must have sensed everyone was expecting the worst. With his words, he eased all the tension in the room. Well, maybe not all of it.

  “I know that’s your first concern. However, she’s going to have a bit of a recovery time. She’s severely dehydrated, and apparently hasn’t been fed very much while she was in captivity.” He continued. Emily bit her tongue to keep from firing a million questions at him.

  “Dr.Cramer, I hate to ask, but I need to know. Was…. She…. I mean…. was she assaulted... Sexually, I mean.” Her father stammered over his words. Emily wanted to know too, but then again, she didn’t.

  “Mrs. Bradshaw assured me that she wasn’t, and we did examine her to verify that as well.”

  “Thank God.” Elaine sobbed.

  “The bad news is she was treated very poorly, and although the physical injuries will heal, she will probably need help with the psychological ones.” The doctor explained.

  “Can we see her?” Her father asked, and it broke her heart that he now had tears in his eyes.

  “We did give her a sedative, and are putting fluids into her, so she is resting and will probably be sleeping most of the night. I know you’re all anxious to see her so you may go in two at a time for a few minutes.” Dr. Cramer nodded to her father. “She did ask for you several times, Mr. Bradshaw. She said she would like to talk to you privately, but I doubt she will be alert enough to talk tonight.” Her father jumped to his feet.

  “I have to see her. Please.” She’d never seen her dad so unhinged in her life. “I’m not going home.”

  “She’s in a private room, as you requested, so we’ll make arrangements for you.” He turned to her and her siblings. “Before any of you go in you need to know that she’s lost weight, and she has several bruises on her body, but she’ll be okay. If there’s anything, you want to know just ask.” He nodded towards her father and they left the room.

  “I think maybe we should just let dad be alone with her tonight.” Edward stood up and shoved his hands into his front pockets.

  “I just need to see her.” Elaine was still sobbing.

  “We can all go in and see her, but just to see for ourselves, she’s really okay.” Emily wrapped her arms around Elaine.

  “Let’s give dad a few minutes alone with her first.” Emily felt her brother’s strong arms wrap around her and Elaine. She glanced towards the door. Keith had his shoulder propped against the wall, and he was staring down at his phone. She stepped back from her siblings and went to him.

  “Is something wrong?” Emily asked when she saw the look on his face. He held up his phone. The screen showed the sweetest baby she’d ever seen. He had a head full of dark hair and was snuggle against the chest of a very teary eyed Sandy.

  “Oh, my goodness.” Emily pulled the phone from Keith’s hand without even asking. “He’s so cute.”

  “Meet Alexander Ian O’Connor,” Keith was obviously a very proud uncle.

  “Sandy looks so exhausted, but happy.” A pang of jealousy hit her. At the rate she was going, she would never be a mother.

  “You’ll be happy to know that Ian’s still alive as well.” Keith chuckled when she handed him back his phone. Sandy had threatened Ian’s life a number of times in the jeep when he’d tried to get Sandy to control her breathing.

  “Your father wants all of you to come see your mom. The doctor said it’s okay as long as you only stay a few minutes.” The nurse she’d spoken to earlier peeped into the room.

  Emily glanced at Keith, and he nodded. She wanted him to hold her hand when she entered her mother’s room, but that would be pushing it. The doctor was probably bending all kinds of rules to allow all of them in to see her mother at the same time.

  She entered the room linked into one of her brother’s arms, and Elaine was clinging to his other hand. The nurse tried to prepare them for what they were about to see, but it didn’t work.

  Her mother was asleep, and wires and tubes were running everywhere around the bed. The nurse told them it was to keep an eye on her vital signs. Emily assumed the bags of what looked like water was to make sure her mother got all the fluids she needed. It was a little hard to see her mom like that.

  “She’s sleeping.” Her father whispered from next to the bed. He was holding his wife’s hand as if she would disappear.

  Emily swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked her eyes to keep tears from spilling out. She had to be strong for her father.

  “She looks so skinny.” Elaine slowly moved to the side of the bed.

  “She’s still the most beautiful woman in the world.” Her dad gently touched her mom’s cheek.

  “We’ll get her a big cheeseburger when we get her home.” Edward tugged Emily towards the foot of the bed.

  “She loves dad’s homemade burgers.” Emily forced a smile.

  “I’ll make her a burger every day if she wants.” Emily had never seen her dad so shaken. He’d always been a strong and overbearing man, not that Emily doubted his love, but when it came to his wife, he was a pushover.

  “Dad, are you sure you’ll be comfortable staying here tonight?” Emily asked.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine. They’re bringing in a recliner for me to sleep in, but I doubt I’ll move from here.” He glanced up at her and smiled. “Emily, go home with Keith. Get some rest. Rex will take Elaine and Edward home.”

  “Dad, you need Rex here,” Edward said.

  “I’ve messaged Keith. He’s got another guy on the way here.” His gaze moved back to her mother.

  Emily walked around the bed and wrapped her arms around her dad. When she kissed his cheek, she felt the dampness of the tears he’d been trying to hide.

  “I’ll be here tomorrow first thing. I’ll get Kim to take my clients.” Emily whispered. “I hope to see you awake tomorrow, mom.”

  Emily leaned over the bed and kissed her mother’s cheek. It was so hard to keep the tears from falling especially with her sister sobbing, but it was what she did.

  The drive home was quiet, and Keith didn’t push her to talk. The only time he did, was when he drove through the Tim Horton’s drive-thru to ask if she wanted anything. She shook her head and continued to gaze out the window. The sun was going down, and by the time they got back to Keith’s house, she knew it would be dark.

  As usual, when they walked into the door, Burlap howled and wrapped herself around their legs. She had settled into Keith’s house, and although he hadn’t said anything, Emily was pretty sure Keith liked the little kitten more than he admitted.

  “Okay, you weren’t here that long by yourself. Chill out.” Keith reached down and picked up Burlap in his huge hand.

  Emily watched as he ran his fingers over the kitten’s tiny head making Burlap purr and snuggle into Keith’s chest. He was such a gentle man.

  As if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over her Emily started to tremble, and she had no idea why. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt slightly dizzy. She grabbed onto the counter and took several deep breaths, but she couldn’t stop it. Tears started to spill down her cheeks, and thick heavy sobs escaped.

  “Shit, Em, what’s wrong?” Keith put the cat on the floor and was next to her in seconds. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “I….I…. d….don’t know. I…I…. f….f….feel like I’m falling apart.” She stammered.

  Keith pulled her against him and wrapped her tightly in his arms. She fisted his shirt and sobbed. Tears she’d been holding in for hours, days and even weeks flowed like a river. She cried with happiness that her mother was home. She sobbed for what her mother had been through, and she trembled because she was wrapped in the arms of the man that she was quickly falling for. The only man that could break her heart.

  Chapter 12

  The freaking cat was climbing up his leg, and her nails were digging into his thigh painfully, but he couldn’t move. Emily was crying in his arms, and he wasn’t one
hundred percent sure why. It was probably because the entire day had been overwhelming, and although she seemed to be hiding her emotions from everyone, he knew.

  “Let it out, Em,” Keith whispered. “You’ve been holding this in for way too long.”

  Burlap finally gave up and jumped down from his leg. Keith was relieved, but with Emily so close it did things that were so wrong, considering the situation. She wanted comfort, and he had a hard on from having her pressed against him.

  Such an asshole.

  “This is so ridiculous.” Emily hiccupped and sniffed. “Mom’s safe.”

  “Princess, you’ve been holding in everything for so long. Nobody can keep their emotions in forever. No matter how strong they are.” Keith kissed the top of her head without even thinking.

  Holding her in his arms felt good. Felt Right. It was as if she’d been made to fit perfectly in his embrace. It was so wrong to think about Emily as more than a client, but he couldn’t help it. He was falling for her and damn if he could keep fighting it.

  “I’m sorry,” Emily pressed her forehead against his chest.

  “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,” Keith whispered.

  Emily tipped her head back, and Keith gazed down into her eyes. They glistened with tears, and red circles surrounded them, but she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  “Keith,” Emily whispered and dropped her gaze to his lips.

  “Emily,” Keith cupped her cheek in his hand. He slowly lowered his head until his lips were a breath away from hers. “Tell me to stop.” He said it, but there was no way he wanted her to say it.

  “I don’t want you to.” Emily pressed her lips against his before he could respond. It was like a shock jolted through his body as soon as their lips touched. Her hands were fisted in his shirt, and she was pulling him closer as her mouth opened to his. Damn, she tasted like the damn berry candies she’d been eating while they were at the hospital.

  Her tongue glided across his lower lip as she tilted her head and slid her hand up his chest. He moved his hand to the back of her head and fisted her hair, and she whimpered, but her tongue delved into his mouth flicking against his.

  He turned her, so she was between him and the counter. He ground himself against her. There was no doubt she could feel what she was doing to him. When she pressed her hips forward to meet his, he almost lost it.

  Keith didn’t know where he got the strength to stop, but he tore his lips away and pressed his forehead against hers.

  “Emily, we’ve got to stop,” Keith gasped.

  “Why?” She threaded her fingers through his hair and kissed his chest where his shirt was open. “I can feel you want this as much as I do, and I need this.”

  “Emily, I was hired to keep you safe.” Keith moaned when her tongue flicked against his Adam’s apple, and she pressed her hips forward again.

  “Well, I can’t think of a safer place than in your arms,” Emily whispered.

  “I don’t know if my arms are the safest place at the moment.” Keith chuckled.

  “I want you, Keith.” Emily pressed her hands against his cheeks. “I’m not asking for anything beyond tonight, but I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”

  Keith was lost in her eyes. Here she was offering herself to him for one night, and he was actually thinking about saying no. Probably because one night with Emily was never going to be enough for him.

  “Do you have any idea what you’re saying right now?” Keith tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

  “Yes,” Emily’s hands had moved to the buttons on his shirt, and she’d opened the first two. He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the counter.

  “I want you too, Princess but it’s not ethical for me to sleep with the woman I was hired to protect.” Keith groaned when her hands pressed against the bare skin of his chest. He was trying hard to ignore the fact that she now had his shirt completely open and her touch was doing wonderful things to his body.

  “You’re fired.” Emily grinned as her nail flicked over his nipple.

  “You didn’t hire me.” Keith gritted his teeth.

  “Are you going to make me beg, Keith?” Emily moved back from him and leaned back on her hands. The position pushed her breasts up, and his gaze dropped to where her nipples were poking through the fabric.

  “No, but I don’t want you to regret this in the morning. You’ve had a very emotional day.” He couldn’t tear his eyes from her breasts.

  “I won’t.” Emily put her finger under his chin and lifted it until he met her eyes. “You’d probably enjoy looking at them more if I was naked.” She grinned.

  The woman was a vixen, and she tempted him to the point of no return. When she ran her finger down between her tits and looked up at him through her lowered lashes, he was finished. He lifted her off the counter. She squeaked, but it didn’t take a second for her to wrap her legs around his waist.

  Keith hurried down the hall to his bedroom, and although it was awkward, he managed to open his bedroom door without dropping her. A miracle really, since she’d started to suck on his earlobe and whisper some pretty dirty things in his ear.

  He kicked the door closed and eased Emily down on the bed. She stared up at him, and for a moment he thought she’d changed her mind.

  “You have the most beautiful blue eyes,” Emily whispered.

  “Thank you.” Keith moved back from her and rested on his elbow.

  “I like the five o’clock shadow. It’s a little redder than your hair but sexy as hell.” Emily rubbed her hand against his cheek.

  “Thank you again. You’re kind of sexy yourself.” Keith ran his finger across the swell of her breast. She gave a little sigh.

  “You’re the only one of your brothers with red hair,” Emily said.

  “Ian’s is close, but yeah, I’m the only ginger.” Keith dipped his finger inside the edge of her bra, and her eyes drifted closed.

  “Are you a true red head?” Her eyes slowly opened.

  “Are all these questions your way of changing your mind, Emily?” Keith stared into her eyes. “Because if you’ve changed your mind just say so.”

  “I haven’t changed my mind. I’d just like to know if you’re a real ginger. You know, red everywhere.” Her hand cupped his groin, and he groaned.

  “Guess you’ll have to check for yourself.” Keith slowly unbuttoned her blouse as she popped the button of his jeans.

  Emily slowly lowered the zipper of his jeans as he flicked open the clasp of her bra. The person who invented bras that opened in front was a bloody genius. He pushed the silky material aside and cupped her firm, full breast in one hand. She was so much more than a handful.

  “So beautiful,” Keith said with reverence as he circled her nipple with his finger.

  Her hand slipped inside his opened jeans, and her eyes darted up to meet his. It seemed she’d discovered he didn’t wear underwear. He always found them too constricting.

  “Commando man, huh.” She grinned as her hand wrapped around his rock hard erection.

  “Fuck, yes.” Keith’s eyes closed as she gently stroked him. “Emily, that feels so fucking good.” Never had a woman’s hand felt so good on his cock.

  “Can we get rid of the clothes, please?” Emily squeezed him gently. “I really want to see what I’m feeling.”

  Keith reluctantly rolled away from her and ripped off his shirt. He tossed it in the corner as he kicked off his boots. The whole while his eyes never moved from Emily. She’d removed her blouse, bra, jeans and was kneeling on the bed in a pair of the skimpiest pair of panties he’d ever seen. They were white with see-through lace, and he could see her bare pussy through them.

  “Fuck, you’re completely bare,” Keith growled.

  “The perks of owning a beauty salon.” She slid her fingers inside the waist of her panties and slowly slid them off.

  “That right there is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Keith
whispered as he crawled onto the bed.

  “Oh, no. You still have jeans on.” Emily pushed him back. “I told you I wanted to see what I was feeling.”

  Keith backed up and stood next to the bed. Her gaze traveled down his body to where his cock was now peeking out of his opened jeans. He dropped them to the floor and watched as her eyes widened. It was a reaction he got from most women he slept with.

  “I know I had my hand wrapped around it, but wow. You’re kind of large.” Emily crawled to the edge of the bed, and he held his breath. His cock was now seeping with pre-come, and when she flicked her tongue against the head, he almost fell to his knees.

  “Baby, if you keep doing that I won’t get a chance to be inside that bare pussy.” Keith pushed her back on the bed and grabbed her knees. He pulled her to the edge of the bed and ran his hands up her thighs. “You’ve got the sexiest legs I’ve ever seen.”

  “I’ve got chubby thighs, but I like the way you touch them.” Emily rested on her elbows as he worshiped her legs.

  “Your legs, like the rest of you, are beautiful and there is nothing chubby about them,” Keith whispered as he slowly alternated his kisses from one leg to the other, going from her knees right up to her wet heat. “Fucking beautiful.” Keith rubbed his nose against her wetness. He could smell the scent of her arousal, and he couldn’t keep himself from tasting it.

  “Keith,” Emily gasped with the first flick of his tongue against her clit. The second pass was slow between her folds, and she made the most amazing sound. A cross between a gasp and a moan. It was incredibly hot.

  “Emily, you taste so fucking good.” Keith used his thumbs to open her so he could sink his tongue inside.

  She raised her hips to meet the thrusts of his tongue. She’d lay back on the bed, and her hands were threaded through his hair. He sunk his finger inside her as his tongue worked her hard nub.

  “Oh. Fuck. Keith.” The loud groan from her sweet mouth made him almost come then and there.

  Keith pulled her clit into his mouth and quickly flicked his tongue against it as he pushed a second finger inside her. On the third thrust of his finger and sucking hard on her clit, Emily’s hips raised off the bed, her body shuttered, and she clamped around his fingers.