Safer With You

by Trisha Madley

  I am enraged by the way everyone has been talking about me. I mean, part of me is thrilled that Jase wants me, but Luke is so…frustrating. Does he not understand the word NO?

  Hopefully, he got it this time, but no such luck as he opens his mouth again.

  “Okay, we’ll talk about this later after the company has left,” Luke says.

  Max speaks up, “Hey, asshole, in case you missed it, I’m family, not company and Jase is my family, so technically your ass is the only company here.”

  Luke practically growls, “Let’s go; I’ll take you upstairs.”

  Jase finally interrupts Luke’s obsessive behavior. He’s been so quiet. “Nora, I won’t keep you, but can I have a word with you?”

  My body is answering for me. My heart beats fast at the way my name escapes his lips. I look over at Luke, who doesn’t say a word, but his facial expression is screaming, “NO!”

  Jenny and Max stand too.

  “Sure, I’ll walk you over to the rental house,” I say with a smile that there is no way I can hide. But as I turn to follow Jase, I feel a firm grasp on my wrist. Luke pulls me roughly to his chest; pain radiates from my wrist to my arm.

  “Ouch,” comes from my mouth, but before I say anything else, Luke is on the ground. I didn’t even see what Jase did to knock him down.

  Jase stands over him and pulls him up to his feet. “You touch her like that again, and it will be the last fucking time you use your arm. You got me, asshole?” Jase’s voice booms in the quiet night air.

  Jase quickly has Luke slammed against the brick wall of the porch, and Luke’s hand is twisted into a painful position.

  I hurry and slide in between them before Max joins the fun. “Jase, please let him go. He wasn’t trying to hurt me.” I plead with him by putting my hand on his firm chest and pushing against him.

  He lets go. Luke spits onto the concrete sidewalk and wipes the blood off his mouth with his arm. He straightens his shirt and says, “Nora, please come inside with me.” His voice is hoarse.

  “Let me speak to Jase. Max, could you give us a moment?” I knew he would know that meant take care of Luke. Even though we haven’t talked much lately, he always knows what to do.

  Max’s bald head nods and his large hand palms Luke’s shoulder, “Come on, Luke, the family would like to have a word with the company.”

  Geez, when were they all going to stop acting like Neanderthals? Jase watches me closely, his breathing is heavy. His ocean eyes are studying me.

  “Jase, I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can handle Luke.”

  “He doesn't need to ever touch you that way. I thought he was supposed to be in love with you. I don’t think that’s the correct way to convey his feelings, do you?”

  I don’t say anything because I know he’s right, but I can handle Luke.

  “Thank you, but I can handle him, cowboy,” I tease.

  He smiles and places a hand on my cheek. “I’m sure you can, but I told you I don’t like him touching you…even gently; so imagine how I feel when he’s being rough.”

  Jase caresses my cheek with his thumb; my body comes alive as his skin moves over mine. I could care less about what just happened. I want his mouth on mine and his hands all over me.

  My eyes naturally close at his touch. I feel him lean in closer, and he whispers, “Baby, I’m serious, don’t let him touch you like that.”

  He takes that moment to cover my lips with his. Pure calmness and desire cascade through me at the same time. Jase’s touch illuminates my senses. He tastes like beer and mint. He smells of a fresh scent and feels like heaven.

  Jase breaks our kiss and I want to cry. I know I sigh at the loss. He runs his hand through my hair. “Goodnight, beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. If you need me, I’m right next door.” He kisses my forehead and lingers for a second, then turns to walk away.

  I stand frozen, watching him walk away from me, and all I want to do is run after him. I know, in this moment, I am completely and irrevocably in love with Jase Madsyn, my cowboy.

  A throat clears behind me, “Well, you sure know how to drive the boys wild around here.”

  I spin around to see Max’s playful grin. Max walks down the stairs, “You coming in now that you’ve made sure neither one of those boys will have a peaceful night’s sleep?”

  I take a deep breath. “Not sure what you mean, Max.” He knows I’m lying.

  “Oh, Nora, you know you got those boys worked up. Let me tell you, Jase doesn’t get worked up over anyone or anything. He’s got it bad, Ms. Skye.”

  I wrap my arms around Max’s solid body. He hugs me back. He’s like a brother to me, and I’ve missed his advice dearly.

  “Oh, Max, I think I’ve fallen for Jase. I mean, stupidly fallen for him.”

  I feel Max’s body shake with laughter. “No shit, Sherlock.”

  “I don’t know what I’m doing. How do I tell Jase how I feel and how the hell do I get rid of Luke?”

  “Well, Luke is a cockroach that won’t die. You need to be straight and kick him the fuck out of your life. And, Jase, well, you need to tell him how you feel. I learned with Jenny; he might be just as unsure as you are.”

  Max lets go of me and we sit down on the steps. “I thought you didn’t like the idea of Jase and me together?”

  Max is wearing a huge smile on his face. “He didn’t deserve you the night of the wedding, or even in the hospital, but he has shown that you aren’t just another woman in his life who doesn’t matter; you are the only woman in his life that matters.”

  Tears start to run down my cheeks. I don’t know what to say to Max, but I think I just got his blessing.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jase

  I hate leaving her with that asshole. The way he yanked her around like she was some sort of rag doll. I could have killed him right in front of her.

  I let go of Luke because, as soon as the sound of her voice brushed my ears, I had to stop. I listened without question. If I believed in magic, I could swear she put some sort of spell on me and made me a slave to her every wish.

  I’ve paced this entire little house since I returned from the Skyes’ house. I think back on my conversation today with Max.

  Max was shooting daggers at me when he shoved his way past the door to the rental house.

  “Come on in,” I said sarcastically, while gesturing him through the door.

  “I can’t stand that prick anymore. What the fuck are you doing hiding out in here and not over there kicking his ass out of the house? Where the fuck did your balls go?” Max said, as he walked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer.

  I crossed my arms, wondering what the hell was going on with him. He specifically told me that she needed time to herself. That she needed space to figure out who and what she wants. He told me he knows her better than anyone. But, here he was in my face.

  “I thought you wanted me to stay away from her, remember? I’m taking your advice since you know Nora so well.”

  “I don’t know shit! You’re going to lose her to that douche bag if you don’t make a play for her. Why the hell would you let him take her to that party? Didn’t you sleep with her?”

  “That’s none of your business, and I don’t want to push her. If she has feelings for him, I want to know. If she picks me, well then fuck the bastard,” I replied confidently.

  Max stopped drinking his beer and peered at me, “Wow, you cocky son of a bitch, was it part of your plan for him to spend the night with her tonight? Because he’s staying the night.”

  My blood heated and I saw red, “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  Max yelled back, “Because I thought your dumb ass would have made a move by now, but your pussy ass hasn’t done a damn thing!”

  He’s right; I gave her too much space and I’m not going to lose her. I composed myself and put on my business face, “Let’s go.”

  Here I am, still pacing, and Luke hasn’t
left yet. I wonder what they’re doing. Does she really want him to spend the night? As my mind is racing with “what ifs,” I decide to go through the surveillance videos that I received yesterday. I need to focus my time on something useful.

  I set the speed to slow motion and watch screen by screen. My eyes survey Nora as she reaches in her purse, and then the feed is lost. I play it again, looking to the side of her, the background, and the vehicle that seems too close to the building. I zoom in closer.

  There is a man’s face between the side mirror and the hood of the car. Weirdly, he seems to be slouched down with his focus on Nora. I zoom in closer, squinting to see the face, then it becomes clear exactly who the face belongs to.

  My world stops, again. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I pick up the phone to inform Tucker, when a knock at the door startles me.

  Walking to the door and expecting to see Tucker on the other side, another surprise. Nora.

  God, she is beautiful. Her hair is blowing wildly around her face, she grabs a handful and wraps her hair behind her ear. She bites her lip, like she’s not sure if she should be here or not.

  “Hi,” she says sweetly.

  I’m still trying to wrap my head around what I just saw. Could he really have done this? Why would he do this to her? I know I’m staring blankly at her. I’m not sure what to do.

  “Jase, is it okay…” Her eyes peek behind me, looking into the house behind me. “I mean, are you busy?”

  I shake my head and swallow for the words to come, “Yeah, come on in.” I open the screen door wider.

  Nora walks past me and stands beside the kitchen table, staring at my hands.

  At this point, I’m not sure what to do. My first instinct is to run out of here and figure out what he was doing at the wedding and hunt him down. But I don’t have any concrete evidence that he wasn’t supposed to be there. Maybe he was on security detail. I know my uncle used some of the senator’s own security to help out that night.

  I need to calm down. Either way, as long as she is here, with me, I will keep her safe. This is the best place for her to be.

  “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” I ask, pulling my shit together for her sake.

  Her shoulders shrug innocently, “I couldn’t sleep; someone was on my mind.”

  At her words, my nerves calm, but my heart picks up the pace. “Anyone I know?”

  “You,” she says.

  Fuck me, that’s what I’ve needed to hear from her. I smile like a lovesick fool.

  “Oh, yeah, anything in particular?” I ask.

  “I just wanted to thank you for everything, for tonight with Luke. For some stupid reason, I’m always making excuses for his behavior.”

  Nora takes a seat at the table and I follow her lead. “Doesn’t seem like he’s letting you go without a fight?”

  “No.” She looks down at her hands again, and then looks up at me through her eyelashes. “I really never saw this side of him…fighting to be with me, constant attention from him. It’s really bad timing on his part.” Nora lets out a little laugh. “He let me go so easily before, and now, when there might be someone else for me…”

  Those caramel eyes are locked on me, I feel like they are burning right through me. I reach over, grab the back of her neck, and pull her to my lips. I want to be gentle with her, but my body isn’t letting me. I’m hard, and all I can think about it getting back inside her again.

  She returns my sentiment, thrusting her fingers into my hair and cementing us even closer. I grab her tight ass and lift her up, while she wraps her legs around me.

  Nora stops kissing me for a second, “Let’s go to your bed.”

  I’m on it. I carry her down the narrow hallway and we reach the bedroom, where I’ve sat for weeks dreaming of what it would be like to be with her again; finally, it’s a reality.

  I’m not even watching where in the hell I’m going. Moving at the speed of light, my shins hit the bed, dropping her like a savage. Honestly, I want to be gentle with her, her body has gone through so much, but I’m aching to be inside her again.

  Nora giggles as she’s dropped with a thud. I rip off my T-shirt and throw it over my shoulder. Standing there in front of her, I take in every inch of her, from her long brown hair spread out on my pillow to her dark almond-shaped eyes narrowing in on my chest, and know she likes what she sees by the seductive smile that spreads across her lips.

  My eyes roam down to the plain white T-shirt lifted up to exposed her navel. She takes charge by unbuttoning her snug jean shorts and unzipping them for me.

  That’s my cue. I lean down with both hands beside her head and hover over her. “Do you even understand how beautiful you are?” I say.

  She shakes her head no teasingly, while biting her lip. “Christ, you’re ruining me; I’ll never be the same.”

  I pull her thin T-shirt up to expose her bra. I don’t even undo it, I slide it up too. My cock is straining against my shorts. Her breasts are full and luscious as my mouth covers one. I tug her nipple with just my lips, with a popping sound as I let go.

  She smells delicious. I’ve been craving her smell and taste since the moment she left my bed weeks ago.

  As I move over her breasts they harden as I lick, suck, and taste every inch of them. I spread my hands down the sides of her body until her shorts stop me. Reaching to finish what she started a few moments ago, I start to pull them down.

  Unfortunately, I have to leave her breast so I can tug off her shorts completely. In less than a second, I’m back where I belong, and now she is naked.

  My hands glide down with my mouth trailing down her side, I come upon her scar and kiss it tenderly, hoping to convey that I want to take away all her pain. She runs her hands through my hair and softly moans as a response.

  Continuing my journey down her thighs while spreading them apart, I back up off her again and drop my shorts, along with my boxers.

  “Jase, God…please,” she pleads.

  I want to take my time with her, but how the fuck do I do that when she’s begging me?

  Nora squirms beneath me, telling me exactly what she needs. I slide a finger into her, making sure she’s ready and my finger is soaked. I rub her more; her body is now rocking waiting to see what I do next.

  I slide into her and we move together. Like we’ve done it a thousand times before. How could this only be our second time? It feels so amazing, so right. I’m lost in her. We rock and meet each other with every thrust, and soon she comes, screaming my name.

  Never has my name sounded so erotic. I can’t hold back anymore. When I come back down to earth, my breathing is heavy, and I’m dripping with sweat.

  “Wow, Jase…that was…I don’t have the words.” Nora’s breathing is as heavy as mine, and she is completely motionless. Her hands are above her head, her eyes closed, and her lips curved in a smile.

  I rip away whatever pillows are left around us on the bed and slide down the comforter. Nora isn’t moving, so I work around her until I’m comfortably situated beside her, holding her tightly.

  Nora finally moves and places her head on my chest. It feels so nice to be with her like this. Just the two of us, finally together.

  “Nora, I can’t imagine not spending every day with you after being with you like this. I know we haven’t talked about a relationship, and we’re still trying to figure each other out, but don’t you feel this too?”

  Nora lifts her body and looks into my eyes, her face is flushed, and her hair is wild and sexy. Her lips hover over mine as she speaks, “I feel this pull between us; it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. I’m so scared to give everything I have to you.” She kisses me softly and pulls away. Her eyes shine with tears. “But I’m more afraid of losing this…you.”

  “Nora, I’m in love with you. I don’t know how it happened in one night, but the moment I saw you in that car, fuck.” I run my hands down my face, wiping away the memory of her face leaning down on the dashboard. “I just
wanted you in my arms, safe and with me.”

  A tear streams down her face, and I kiss it away.

  “I love you, Jase Madsyn.”

  I can’t hide the smile on my face or inside me.

  “Are you staying the night here?” I ask. If she doesn’t say yes, I might tie her to the bed.

  “Yes, I’d like to try that again.”

  “Yeah, well I think I can fulfill that wish.” I roll so that’s she’s on top of me, and I’m ready for her to take charge.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Nora

  The deep breathing next to me is music to my ears. Jase Madsyn loves me. Me, a quiet, shy school teacher has his heart. I can’t believe I’m waking up to this man. His life is full of danger, and I barely know anything about him. I don’t even know what his favorite food is, how he takes his coffee, or if he even likes coffee.

  All these unknown questions have been repeating in my head. How am I going to adjust my life to his? When he’s away on business, how am I not going to worry about him? Is he going to have to charm another woman? Will he give me the same line over and over, “It’s part of my job?”

  My nerves are shot. I need to get up and move around. If I lay here any longer, I might talk myself out of this and run and hide in my old bedroom.

  Jase must sense my unease, because his snoring ceases, and he asks in a rough morning voice, “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m going to make us some breakfast. Do you like coffee?”

  “No, actually I hate that shit. Lay here and relax; I need to find my phone. I have no idea where it is.” He gives me a sly smile.

  He ambles out of bed and I get a great view of his backside. He must work out every day. The definition and detail of his back muscles is insane. His ass is tight and perfect. Jase leisurely struts across the room and shrugs on his boxers. Aww, sadly, I really haven’t gotten a daylight view of the whole sexy package. He’s gone before I can protest out loud.

  I decide I can’t lay here any longer, so I throw on my clothes and head into the kitchen. Tucker is already there, in deep conversation with Jase. It’s weird how he’s always around. Their voices are low, and I can’t help but wonder what they’re talking about. When they notice me, their conversation stops.