Protecting Her Heart

by Chance Carter

  Or face her.

  So he bailed, like a coward.

  “No? Is that all you’re going to say? Don’t I deserve an explanation? Does our friendship mean so little to you?”, she stammered, her anger blatantly clear.

  He nodded, of course she did, but he couldn’t seem to find the words to tell her what had been in his heart that night, or how he was feeling now.

  She stared at him in disbelief, waiting for his confession, her confusion and frustration rising as the seconds passed.

  “I can’t do this,” she cried, raising herself from the couch, turning her back on him. He hated that he was the reason for her anguish, that he had caused her so much pain. He wished he could take it all back, heal her heart...and his. He needed her more than he ever needed anything, and he was losing her. He stood up and reached for her hand, drawing her back before she could walk away, desperately pulling her into his kiss.

  She tried to jerk away but he refused her. His kiss was fiery, passionate, unrestrained, as though finally unleashing every feeling he had buried, every emotion he denied. He laced his fingers through her hair and held her close, exploring her with his desperate mouth. She mewed quietly as though surrendering herself, her tension releasing as she leaned into him. She parted her mouth, wordlessly submitting herself to him. God, she tasted sweet, warm and inviting, and he couldn’t get enough of her. He wanted her, all of her. Body, heart, and soul. She owned him.

  “Why?” she whispered, easing out of his kiss, her eyes searching his.

  “Because I’m in love with you,” he confessed, pausing before pressing his mouth on hers again.

  She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him back, slow, sensual and deliberate, like she couldn’t believe he was real and wanted more evidence. He sizzled under her touch, her kiss an electric charge flowing through every circuit in his body, feeding his need, arousing him.

  “Mimi, I want you,” he confessed, his breath hot in her ear, begging for her consent. She hungrily nodded her head, her eyes penetrating his.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  It was all he needed. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, kicking the door open in his haste. He eased her onto the unmade bed and tore open her blouse, sending the buttons flying. She stared at him wide-eyed, a combination of surprise and desire adorning her beautiful face. He smiled wildly and growled, burying his face in her neck, kissing, sucking, nibbling the sensitive flesh, her delicate scent fueling his exploration. He traced his tongue assertively down her body, tasting every delicious pore, memorizing her curves. He was hard for her.

  Luke slowly undressed her, his fingertips teasing her long limbs as he peeled down her jeans. She shuddered under his touch, her quiet moans encouraging him. She was wearing simple, white cotton panties but they were sexy as hell, promising what was beneath them would take him to church...and worship her he would.

  He knelt between her knees and kissed her mound, gently at first, teasing her clit through the soft material. She squirmed beneath him, raising her hips in invitation. He looked up at her and chuckled, pleased with her feedback. She placed her hands gently on his head, encouraging him to continue. Luke didn’t need to be asked twice and proceeded to bite, suck and lick her through her panties until they were soaking wet, appreciating the taste of her juices through the damp material, a savory-sweet appetizer teasing of the entrée to come. He sensed her pleasure mounting and obeyed her cues, roughly tearing her panties away so he could plunge his long fingers inside of her. He continued to devour her pussy, slipping his fingers in and out of her soaking wet hole, her body tensing under his touch, moaning her approval. He needed to make her cum, to offer her pleasure far greater than the pain he had caused. He needed her to know what was in his heart, that she was his, now and always. She always had been.

  Mimi came quickly, releasing a deep, sexy moan, bucking and grinding into his face as she climaxed, coating his tongue with her sexy spice. She held nothing back from him, as pleasure rushed through her body, rewarding him with her fieriness, validating him. Luke hungrily lapped at her pussy, desperate to prolong her pleasure, until her climax released its sensuous hold on her, and she calmed beneath him.

  She took a moment to catch her breath, gently combing her fingers through his hair while he rested his head on her stomach. Normally he shied away from such intimacies, but with her, the tender moment felt right.

  “Can I kiss you?” she breathed, raising his head with her hands. He looked up, over the landscape of her beautiful curves, and smiled.

  “Hell ya,” he gushed, raising himself over her. He eagerly kissed her, his cock anxiously pressing against her through his slacks.

  “Mmm, I do taste good,” she teased, her tongue exploring his mouth.

  “Ya, you do,” he agreed between kisses.

  “Take this off,” she begged, loosening his tie. He was still fully dressed in his business suit. “Take it all off!”

  She slipped the tie through his collar and eyed it provocatively, grinning suggestively at him. He knew exactly what she wanted and chuckled in agreement, taking it from her hands. He quickly kissed her then rolled to his side, shifting his weight off her.

  “Shimmy up the bed, Mimi, right now,” he commanded, peeling away her torn blouse. She did exactly as he asked, happy to please him. Breathlessly, he stared at her nakedness, appreciating every womanly curve, from her soft, full breasts all the way down to her rounded hips and juicy ass. She was divinely perfect. Eve, personified.

  Luke crawled up the bed beside her and raised her arms, wrapping his tie tightly around her wrists, grinning wickedly at her. She inhaled deeply, enjoying his sexy assault. He fastened her bound wrists to the headboard, tugging tightly against the binds to ensure she couldn’t escape, then kissed her on the mouth, hard, demonstrating who was in charge.

  He quickly undressed, freeing his angry cock, and straddled himself over her squirming, defenseless body. She wiggled beneath him, testing the binds, her eyes begging him to ravish her. He’d never felt more aroused than he did in that moment, her vulnerability and need fueling his passion.

  “I want you in my mouth,” she panted, her chest heaving beneath him. He raised his brows, thrilled by her carnal confession, and eased the tip of his cock to her mouth, glossing her lips with his pre-cum. She licked the saltiness away, then opened her mouth to him, inviting him to penetrate her. He entered her slowly, allowing her to milk his cock, pulling him into her throat, deeper and deeper, her lips tight against his shaft. His arousal was thick, tightening and straining in his core, threatening to explode in her mouth. Her throaty moans sent a shiver up his spine, making his cock beg for release, but Luke restrained himself.

  “I’m going to fuck you, woman,” he growled, slipping out of her eager mouth. Mimi glanced up at him and smirked, her soft eyes heavy with desire. He kissed her again, wrapping his fingers tightly through her hair. She returned it with an urgency that begged to be fucked, spreading her legs as further proof. He didn’t hesitate, plunging himself into her, sheathing his swollen cock in her womb.

  He fucked his woman well but could feel his orgasm surging, way too quickly, his rebellious cock surly and impatient, building with an intensity that shook him to the core.

  He raised her ass higher, dangerously rocking his hips, a slave to his demanding cock. She writhed and moaned beneath him, tightening her grip on his ass, squeezing her thighs tightly around him while she climaxed. She screamed out his name, her body bucking beneath him, pulling at her restraints. He matched her passion, desperately driving himself into her until he exploded inside, spilling his hot seed into her hungry pussy.

  Exhausted, he rested himself on top of her, allowing his cock to grow flaccid inside her, gently sucking and kissing her pert nipples. She moaned softly, the rise and fall of her breath strangely reassuring.

  “Luke?” she whispered, squeezing him with her thighs.

  “Mmm?”

  “Can you untie me?”

&
nbsp; “Uh-uh”, he chuckled, pulling a tight nipple into his mouth. She giggled softly and relaxed beneath him.

  “You can’t keep me tied up and vulnerable forever” she teased softly, wiggling her body beneath him.

  “Why not?” he mused, raising his head, grinning sheepishly at her.

  She shook her head and laughed, “I don’t really have a good answer.”

  “Me either,” he agreed, raising himself to kiss her.

  Chapter 42

  Luke carefully rolled himself off of her and perched on the side of the bed, slipping his slacks back on. She watched him fish into his pocket, searching for something, which he quickly palmed in his hand. He turned back and smiled at her, reaching up to untie her binds, slipping something over her finger before freeing her.

  She pulled her arms down and massaged her biceps, glancing at her left hand. She looked up at Luke, her shock a sharp contrast to his confident smile.

  “What is this?” she gasped, raising her hand to get a better look. Luke pulled up the sheets, tenderly tucking them around her.

  “Mimi, do you remember when we kissed in grade nine drama class? You were the first woman I ever kissed.”

  “I was?” she asked softly, her eyes locked to his.

  “You were. Why I didn’t do something about it then, I’ll never know. Maybe we both had a lot of growing to do, lessons to learn, life to live. I’m just grateful that we stayed in each other’s lives. You’re my best friend,” he shared, visibly shaken. She reached out and took his hand, both comforting him and encouraging him to continue.

  “I was an asshole, I know that. What happened at that party never should have happened. I was jealous of Arran, I admit it. I know I nudged you toward him because I was fucking scared, but when I realized that you could actually fall for him, it made me crazy! I thought if you knew what I was thinking...how I was falling in love with you, that you would push away from me. That it would end our friendship. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

  Speechless, she nodded at him to continue, sitting up and gathering the sheets tightly around her.

  “That night, after we made love, I was so ashamed about what I did. I couldn’t look you in the eye and pretend that nothing had changed. I changed. Forgive me. I’ll never hurt you again.”

  “I do, I forgive you,” she whispered, squeezing his hand tightly.

  “Mimi, when I found out you were going away with him, I honestly thought I might lose you. I knew it was my own fucking fault but it didn’t hurt any less. I promise, I was going to talk to you when you came back, come clean about everything, the party, my feelings, all of it, but then you showed up at my place last night...”.

  She nodded solemnly, dropping her eyes, recalling how angry she’d been.

  “Why didn’t you leave with Arran?”

  She swallowed hard, and shook her head, not wanting to admit how stupid she’d been.

  “He was just so wrong for me, Luke,” she mumbled, hoping he would leave it at that. He puckered his lips, as though biting his tongue. She cupped his chin gently and pulled him forward for a sweet kiss.

  “Yes,” he breathed beneath her lips. “Do you love me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Marry me,” he whispered, his forehead against hers. “Be the last woman I ever kiss.”

  She eased back and looked deep into his eyes, witnessing his deepest truth. She was his. She was always his.

  “Yes.”

  He wiped away her tears and kissed her again. When he released her, she smiled and raised her hand, admiring her new hardware.

  “The ring is beautiful, Luke.”

  “It was my grandmother’s” he noted, taking her hand, nostalgically twirling the ring around her finger. “I stopped at my mom’s today and asked her for it.”

  “Oh!” she smiled, “I loved your grandma. She was always so sweet to me.”

  “Yes, sweet and sour. She was the only other woman who ever called me out on my shit,” he grinned, squeezing her fingers.

  “What can I say,” she teased, “I can only be me.”

  “That’s enough for me, Mims,” he growled, “It’s always been enough.”

  “Does this mean we can’t play outside anymore?” she smirked, her question playfully apprehensive.

  “Hell no, Cinderella!” he promised, pushing her back on the bed. “All that was only the opening act...”

  Jacked

  CHANCE CARTER

  Chapter 1

  Jack

  I didn't understand why they were so excited already. My opponent hadn't even arrived yet, so there was nothing to see and nothing to cheer for, but that didn’t stop the crowd of rednecks and bikers from filling the air with their jubilation.

  From the jeers and hoots that reached me from across the parking lot, I surmised that the guy I would be laying out today was a fan favorite. That suited me just fine. Being the underdog was a hell of a lot easier than he would find out disappointing his fans was. Since I didn't have any fans, I didn't have anyone to disappoint but myself. It worked out better that way.

  The smoke curled lazily from my lips for a fraction of a second before I sucked it in, allowing it to coat my lungs with ash. The bricks of the bar's back wall were rough on my skin, even through the thin layer of my t-shirt. It was a hot night, and sweat prickled on my brow. If anybody noticed, they probably thought it was fear.

  I didn't give a fuck what they thought.

  I wasn't here to win the twisted adoration of a few small-town hicks or to fuel their blood lust either. I wasn't here because I liked the feeling of bruised knuckles and a battered skull. I wasn't even here because of the anger issues I undoubtedly carried in the black part of my soul. I was here for one reason and one reason only. The prize.

  I only ever showed up for the prize.

  The crowd behind the bar had swelled a little by the time I finished my cigarette, at least twenty guys stood around a pickup truck that had seen better days, joking with the fight’s organizer as he took bets and made predictions.

  I resisted the urge to light up another smoke. The next one was my victory cigarette, and that was as sacred a ritual as any other I knew. It could be my cigarette of defeat too, but I already knew I had nothing to worry about. These guys were all too cocky, too eager. The fighter they'd lined me up against obviously hadn't met proper competition before, and those were always the easiest to take down. I'd been doing this for years and the defeats stuck out in my memory vividly—none of them started like this. No, if I was going to get beat, it was going to come out of the blue and surprise me.

  Someone broke through the crowd and approached me, a stubby looking fucker who hadn't lost the gleam of greed in his eyes since Roddy first introduced me to him a couple weeks ago. He was both the owner of the rusted old pickup and tonight's organizer, and no doubt he soon hoped to win big on the lottery of brute strength. Roddy, who ran interference between me and all the guys who wanted to see me taken down, had warned me to be careful with this one. Clarence Stillwater was as cocky about his fighter as he was ugly, and that said something.

  He stopped in front of me, pulling the brim of his baseball cap lower over his wrinkled forehead. "What's your name again, kid?"

  I sucked my teeth and gave him a once over before answering. "Jack."

  "Just Jack? You don't got a fighter name?"

  I nodded. "Just Jack."

  "You're still game?"

  "There still a prize of two grand for the winner?"

  His thin lips split into a crooked, almost jagged smile. This guy was missing quite a few teeth, enough to make me wonder if he'd ever gotten into the ring himself.

  "Yeah, the prize is the same."

  I shrugged. "Then I'm still game."

  He paused a beat, eyes narrowed on me like I was a pest in need of squashing. "You're not a man of many words, are you?"

  "Not when there isn't anything more that needs saying. I'm sure I'll express myself well and good when your fighter shows u
p."

  "He's coming," Clarence assured. "I wouldn't get too eager though. There's no prize for losing."

  I cocked a wicked grin. "Then I guess I better not lose."

  An obnoxious, lifted pickup growled into the parking lot, filling up three stalls as it parked haphazardly. Clarence immediately turned from me with a wink and started walking over to it, greeting the giant of a man who stepped out with a friendly clap on the back.

  I didn't blame them for thinking this guy was gonna beat me to smithereens. He was the obvious choice—huge, corded with muscles, and he looked as mean as a pit bull. He had a few inches on me and his hands looked perfectly sized to crush my skull. Hell, I would have bet against me if I hadn't met me before. It was a mistake I doubted any of these rednecks would be making twice.

  "You ready, Just Jack?" called Clarence in a sneering tone.

  My lips curved into a smile and I nodded, stepping away from the wall and walking into the clearing the assembled crowd had formed just for me and this ogre.

  "Alright folks," Clarence said, silencing the excited chatter. "Here we got Just Jack, hailing from Bell Springs, going head to head with Angry Angus, Jackson's very own. You've got two more minutes to place your bets before the excitement begins."

  Angry Angus took his place across from me in the "ring", and was obviously trying to mean mug me into shitting my pants. I was much more interested in trying to figure out who was betting on me. Just because I was used to being underestimated didn't mean I had no ego to speak of. These days, people who knew what they were doing when it came to arranging these sorts of fights knew that I wasn't the kind of guy you should fuck with, and I was beginning to wonder if maybe Clarence did know what he was doing after all. He was about to make one hell of a killing on bets.