Scarred (Damaged Souls)

by Twyla Turner

  “Well I’m glad that you like them, because they’ve been the bane of my existence. You can’t imagine how hard it is to clothes shop when your body is several different si…sizes.” Lexi gasped at the end when Sloan’s hot mouth wrapped around her sensitive nipple.

  “Clothes are overrated.” Sloan said as he moved between her legs and smoothly slid into her wet heat.

  Chapter 11

  “Ready or Not”

  Lexi finished up the last few strokes of Sloan’s face on the painting. After they had made love again and took a quick nap, Lexi had pulled him from the bed filled with renewed energy and inspiration. Sloan pouted and complained that he needed to eat because she had worn him out. Ha! I wore him out, yeah right. The man is a machine! I should be the one complaining.

  “How about now? Can we eat now? I’m dying over here!” Sloan whined, making Lexi laugh and then harder still when Tank whined beside her.

  “Oh, don’t encourage him.” Lexi said looking down at the dog. “Fine. I better feed you before you ruin my painting with that pitiful face anyway.” Lexi shook her head as she wiped her hands on a towel she used while painting.

  A huge grin spread across Sloan’s face, finally getting his way. He stiffly got up from the gazebo steps, pulled his t-shirt back over his head and strode over to her as she covered the unfinished painting with a sheet. He stopped in front of her and lifted a hand to caress a thumb across her cheek.

  “You have paint on your cheek. It looks like war paint.” He said with a gentle smile. “So, can I see what you’ve done so far?” Sloan asked while trying to lift the sheet up to sneak a peek.

  “Absolutely not!” Lexi scolded and slapped at his hand. “Not until it’s finished.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Sloan saluted her.

  “You’ve been saying that an awful lot lately. You know women in their thirties aren’t really a huge fan of being called ‘ma’am’. We still consider ourselves misses, if you don’t mind.” Lexi scowled at him.

  “Well then, how about Miss Bossy. That fits.” Sloan said and then leapt away from her laughing as she tried to smack him.

  “I see how it is. You’re getting mighty comfortable and cocky. I guess now that you’ve had me, the romance is gone. No more sweet words and flowery compliments.” Lexi tried to joke, but even to her own ears she sounded a little sad and worried.

  “That’ll never happen. I’m just being playful with you, Alexis. This is how a normal relationship works. You know…fun, teasing and affection. Not fear, humiliation and abuse.” Sloan explained.

  Lexi’s heart sped up at the word ‘relationship’, and she wasn’t so sure it was in a good way. Am I really ready for a relationship? Do I really want to set myself up for heartbreak and disappointment? What if I do something to really piss him off? Will he eventually end up hitting me like all the rest?

  “What are you freaking out about? I can see the wheels turning in your head.” Sloan said nearly in a panic over the distant look that had come across her eyes, like she was purposefully pulling away from him.

  “It’s nothing.” Lexi waved off his concern and smile brightly at him, even if the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “So what should we eat?”

  “Something easy. Maybe we could have a picnic.” Sloan said and Lexi’s eyes widened in surprise. “See…romantic.” Sloan smiled brightly like a little boy as he pointed to himself with both index fingers.

  “Okay Casanova, let’s make some lunch.” Lexi said, taking his hand and leading him into the house. Sloan smiled, happy that she was easily initiating simple touches.

  Inside they scoured the fridge and cabinets for anything to throw together for an impromptu picnic. They put together cheese, crackers and cold cuts. They found leftover potato salad and cold fried chicken from a few nights before. As well as some fruit and the summer ale to wash it all down with. In the end they had a nice spread to work with. They grabbed some plates, silverware, napkins and big quilted blanket to sit on.

  They walked outside with their arms loaded and Sloan looked at Lexi questioningly.

  “Where do you want to set up camp?” He asked.

  “Under the willow tree. It has plenty of shade and just perfect in general.” Lexi sighed wistfully.

  “As you wish, princess.” Sloan nodded in her direction.

  “Oh, so now I’m a princess? I went from Miss Bossy to princess.” Lexi raised a brow at him.

  “Well as I see it, princesses are usually bossy, giving people orders and such. But at the same time they were born to have everything they want and deserve. And since I’m more than willing to give you any and everything, I figure princess is the perfect endearment for you.” Sloan said sincerely before kissing her gently on the cheek.

  Lexi just looked at him wide-eyed and speechless as he headed towards the giant weeping willow. Picking her jaw up off the ground she silently followed him to the tree. Sloan held back the long hanging vines for Lexi to walk through and then released them, letting them fall back into place like a thick natural curtain. Briefly handing Lexi the heavy containers of food, Sloan took the blanket from her and with a quick flick of his wrists, snapped it in the air letting it billow down to the ground perfectly.

  “I think you’ve done this before.” Lexi commented.

  “No, but I was in the Marines and can make a bed faster than you can bat those pretty lashes of yours. So laying out a blanket is a cake walk.” Sloan smirked at her.

  He grabbed the containers out of her arms and set them down on the blanket. They both settled on the blanket next to each other. Lexi looked up and sighed as she watched the sunlight dance through the wispy vines of the tree that hung from its thick twisting branches, while listening to the soothing sounds of the water flowing by down the river.

  “You seem happy. This is the most peaceful I think I’ve seen you.” Sloan said caressing a finger down her neck.

  Lexi closed her eyes and shivered in pleasure, actually enjoying the touch of a man.

  “I am. This is the first time I’m taking advantage of this tree. The moment I saw it, I fell in love. It’s beautiful, relaxing and private. Almost like a little slice of heaven right here on earth. I’ve thought about making a lighted path down to it and maybe even putting some lighting on the tree itself, for at night. But I don’t know if that’ll work. And I don’t want a bunch of obnoxious cords hanging from it. I don’t know…it’s just a thought.” Lexi shrugged her shoulders.

  “It might work.” Sloan gave a noncommittal response, thinking that if he could do it, he’d like to surprise her.

  “Don’t worry about it, it was just a thought. The tree is gorgeous as is.” Lexi brushed it aside.

  She leaned forward on her knees to grab some plates and filled them with food. Sloan eyes traveled down her body as she made the plates. Her ass in the air, in perfect view, taunting him. She sat back and handed the first plate to Sloan, catching him in the act of appraising her body. Lexi blushed at the look of arousal in his eyes.

  “You take my breath away, Alexis.” Sloan said passionately, watching the sunlight dance across her bronzed skin as it filtered down through the vines blowing in the breeze. Sloan looked away from her ridiculous bright green eyes and cleared his throat. “Let’s eat, before I forget I’m starving and I feast on you instead.”

  “I wouldn’t mind.” Lexi whispered.

  Sloan stopped, a chicken leg halfway to his mouth. He growled deep in his throat at the tempting offer.

  “Soon.” He promised, looking at her intensely while he took a savage bite out of his chicken.

  Lexi swallowed hard in anticipation. In the past when the men of her life gave her an intense look, she would practically cower in fear, knowing what was coming. It was an enlightening experience for her, to look forward to what was to come from just a look.

  They ate in silence for a little while wrapped in their own thoughts, Sloan occasionally passing some food to Tank who ate the delicious food happily. Lexi saw the si
lver chain to Sloan’s dog tags peeking out of his shirt and she leaned over to gently pull the tags out from under his shirt as he looked at her intently with silvery-blue eyes.

  “I noticed earlier when I was painting you that you have three tags. I thought that you guys were only required to wear two? Lexi wondered out loud.

  “Yeah, you’re right we do only wear two. The third one is his my buddy Vick’s. I made sure his wife got the other one, but I at least wanted to keep one for myself.” Sloan said seriously.

  “Were you two really close, huh?” Lexi asked.

  “Yes, very. We had been together since bootcamp. He called me his brother from another mother. We were the same height and weight. And we pretty much tied in everything we did, physical endurance, mental aptitude, everything. Everyone said that I was the white version of him and vice versa. Yin and yang.” Sloan chuckled softly, good memories flooding his thoughts.

  “So…I was wondering, have you ever been with a black girl? Well…before me?” Lexi asked curiously, wanting to move the topic to something less melancholy.

  “Uh…yes. My parents are kinda old school southern and wouldn’t take kindly to me dating a black woman. But as you’ve probably guessed, I enjoyed defying them. And it wasn’t just black girls, my parents had my life mapped out for me before I was out the womb. They knew what schools they wanted me to go to, as well as what well-bred woman they wanted me to marry. But I wasn’t having any of it. I felt like I was suffocating under their thumb. I was happier being homeless than I ever was living with them.” Sloan sighed in relative contentment.

  “The only thing that would make me happier is being able to make you proud and not to regret helping me. To be able to take care of you and to take you on a date. I hate that I can’t do that for you, the way I would’ve in the past.” Sloan admitted sadly.

  “Oh, Sloan! Don’t feel like that. I don’t care that you can’t take me on a date at the moment. Technically we’re on a date right now. And in my opinion, it’s perfect. And I have faith that when this house is done, people from all over are going to be beating down the door to hire Stryker Construction & Renovations.” Lexi said with a bright smile.

  “I like that…‘Stryker Construction & Renovations’.” Sloan said grinning back a Lexi. “So speaking of, I think I’m going to sand down the hardwood floors upstairs tomorrow and tear out the drywall in the ceiling, as well as pull up the tile in the bathroom.” Sloan informed her.

  “Okay, that sounds good. And the roofers are coming on Monday right?” Lexi asked.

  “Yeah. And if there’s no extra damage in the roof, they’ll shingle the roof and I’ll put up the new drywall. And if no extra work needs to be done from any unpleasant surprises, I have a good feeling that you’ll be in your brand new master bedroom by next weekend. Especially with the extra men I’m hiring to help. So you might want to go to some furniture stores or go online and pick out your dream bedroom set, so it’ll be here by the time the upstairs is ready for it to be moved in.” Sloan suggested.

  “Oh my God! I’m so excited, I could pee my pants!” Lexi exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

  “Well I don’t wanna be the reason you urinate yourself, so maybe I should pull back and take my time.” Sloan said holding up his hands.

  “Don’t make me hurt you marine, you know what I meant. So just keep plans as scheduled, and nobody gets injured.” Lexi playfully gave Sloan the stink eye.

  “As you wish, princess.” Sloan smirked at her and then grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap.

  Sloan cradled her in his arms like a baby. He rubbed his nose along her cheek.

  “I think you left a little bit of chicken on your face.” Sloan said before kissing her softly and flicking his tongue against the corner of her mouth. He lifted his head up and looked down at her sweetly. “Oops, I think I missed a spot.” And turning her head he kissed the other side of her mouth, again flicking his tongue against her lips seductively.

  Lexi gasped in need and Sloan took advantage of the access and dipped his tongue into her awaiting mouth. He stroked a hand down her neck to the strap of her tank and bra, and lightly scraping his nails across the smooth skin of her shoulder pulled down the straps until he released a ripe nipple. Freeing her lips from the heated kiss, Sloan pushed up her breast with a firm hand and wrapped his lips around her taunt nipple and her back arched reflexively.

  Sloan got in a few laps before Lexi came to her senses.

  “Sloan, stop.” Lexi said as she pulled his head away from her feverish skin. “What are you trying to do, give the neighbors a show? I think some of them are pretty old and may have a coronary if they saw.” Lexi sat up and pulled her tank and bra back into place.

  “Aw, they’d love it. It would be the most action they’ve seen in a decade.” Sloan tried kissing her again to distract her. “Besides, they can’t see anything through the vines anyway.” Sloan pouted as she dodged his kiss and got up from his lap.

  “Come on, I want to finish the painting before I lose the light. I only have a few more hours left.” Lexi said, starting to gather up their empty plates and closing up the food.

  “You’re no fun.” Sloan folded his arms across his chest like a little boy on punishment.

  “And you’re a brat.” Lexi stuck her tongue out at him, enjoying the banter between them, never knowing that interacting with a man could be like this.

  Grabbing as much as she could in her arms, Lexi started to head into the house. Sloan quietly snuck up behind her and swatted her butt as she walked. She nearly dropped the containers in her arms, jumping a foot from the ground. Sloan grimaced at the shocked look on her face, forgetting that smacks from a man, even playful ones, weren’t her idea of a good time.

  “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Sloan said shamefaced.

  “No it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting it.” Lexi scrunched her eyebrows together in thought. “Actually, it didn’t really bother me. Huh, you must be working some sort of southern voodoo magic on me or something.” Lexi finally smiled brightly and continued into the house, Sloan following close behind, sighing with relief.

  “I was raised in South Carolina, not Louisiana. Voodoo isn’t really our thing.” Sloan chuckled.

  “Oh sorry. I didn’t mean to offend your genteel southern sensibilities.” Lexi rolled her eyes at him.

  “I’ll give you genteel.” Sloan said before catching her around the waist and tossing her like a ragdoll onto the kitchen counter.

  Before she could complain, Sloan captured her mouth in a searing kiss designed to silence any objections. It did the job, because she went from lukewarm to scorching within seconds. They tugged and pulled at each other’s clothes until they were only in their shirts. Sloan wasted no time in plunging into her hot wet depths.

  There was nothing soft and sweet about their lovemaking. It was hard and desperate. As much as Sloan wanted to show Lexi what it was like to be treated with a gentle hand and to be made love to tenderly, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from losing his composure, frantic to get as close and as much of her as he could. Somehow worried that this was too good to be true, that it would never last.

  “Shit, Lexi!” Sloan shouted as he buried his face in her neck, gripped her plush ass tightly and pounded into her with all the strength and force he had.

  She wrapped her legs around his hips and her arms around his waist the best she could and bunched the back of his shirt in her hands as she hugged him to her. Sloan lifted her off the counter and continued to thrust into her in midair.

  “Oh God…oh God…Sloan!” Lexi screamed as she came around his thick shaft.

  Sloan’s knees buckled as his climax wrenched him in half. He fell to his knees with Lexi still in his arms on his lap. Her head rested limply on his chest and he laid his cheek on her soft hair. They tried to calm their ragged breathing.

  “Jesus, Lexi! I’m so sorry. I can’t seem to stop myself from being too rough with you.” Sloan said kissing the top
of her head through her thick cloud of dark hair.

  “It’s okay Sloan. I…I like it.” Lexi said hesitantly, making Sloan look down at her in surprise. “I was just as desperate as you were. It’s good to know that rough sex doesn’t necessarily equal pain, but intense passion. And if I failed to mention it before, each time has been extraordinary. Thank you.” Lexi said shyly before kissing him softly on the lips.

  “You’re welcome.” Sloan looked deep into her eyes, making sure that she really was okay and finding nothing but contentment there.

  “Okay, now enough with the distractions. It’s time to paint.” Lexi gave him a quick smack on the lips and the stood on wobbly legs.

  “How is it that you have so much energy after sex, when I’m ready to take a nap?” Sloan asked in wonder as she pulled on her pants.

  “I don’t know. It fills me with adrenaline and creativity. And personally I think that maybe all the blood flows to the female brain after sex and it drains from the male brain. Leaving you all a bunch of tired bumbling idiots.” Lexi giggled and then squealed in delight and took off as Sloan jumped up with the grace of a caged lion to give chase.

  Holding onto her heavy breasts as she ran so they wouldn’t smack her in the face, Lexi ran outside and around the gazebo. And even though she had a few second lead on him because he had to stop to pull up his jeans, her short legs were no match for Sloan’s longer ones. He caught her around the waist and lifted her off of her feet. Walking her over to the easel, he placed her on her feet in front of the covered painting.

  “Alright, paint me woman! I want to be immortalized like King Henry the eighth.” Sloan said with a puffed out chest.

  “Oh great, so does that mean you’re going to lop off my head at some point?” Lexi raised a brow at him in question.

  “Nah, I’d like to keep you around for a while.” Sloan teased as he took his position on the steps of the gazebo.

  “Uh huh. Okay, your majesty, put your game face on, this is the final stretch.” Lexi said pulling the sheet off the canvas, ready to finish his portrait.