I reach for his shoulder. “He is—was—stubborn. At the hospital, they told me there was only one other survivor, which I assume was you.”
He nods.
“Then the man who shot him is dead, right?”
“Yes.”
Blowing out a sigh of relief, I ask, “Did you know him?”
Anger simmers in his eyes. “Yeah, I knew him. Knew him well.”
My pulse races. This is what I’ve been waiting for ... a name—something. The Feds had refused to disclose that information, saying it was for my safety. “Who was it? What was his name?”
His head falls in his hands, and he tugs on his hair, his fingers turning white. “I’m sorry. I tried to stop him, but it was too late.” His words come out choked.
Seeing how much this is weighing on him is breaking my heart. Rubbing his back, I pull him tightly against my shoulder. “I don’t blame you. You did what you could,” I say softly, realizing he’s crying.
“It was Glenn. My father killed him.”
That’d been one of the hardest things I’d had to do in all of my fucked up life. It took a lot of fight not to break down in front of her. Not knowing what she was thinking nearly killed me. I couldn’t look her in the eye until her words had forced me to, expecting her expression to be filled with hate—or worse, fear. I’ve got her father’s killer’s blood pumping inside my veins, and that’s got to be hard for her. She should’ve been repulsed by the sight of me, but instead her gaze was sympathetic—almost understanding.
We’d talked a little longer, and I’d kept my answers vague, purposely leaving out some of the details that I thought could hurt her. She didn’t need to know that it was her life Glenn had threatened. I didn’t want to scare her, and I definitely didn’t want her feeling responsible for any part of Andrew’s death. Knowing her, she’d blame herself when she’d been innocent in all of it. Bringing up the fact that I’d also been shot, she’d asked about my injuries, saying she wouldn’t have been able to handle losing the both of us. I’d kept my reply to myself. It seemed she handled things just fine without me before, moving on pretty quickly. Anger stirred inside me at the thought. I inhaled a breath, curling my fingers to calm myself down. That douche is going to wish he’d never laid eyes on her by the time I’m finished with him.
We sit and stare at the water for a bit, growing tired, before we decide to make our way back to the hotel in comfortable silence. I’d noticed her phone blowing up a couple times, but always just ignored it. I figured she was being polite. As we’re stepping off the elevator, it rings again, and I look over. “You don’t have to avoid whoever that is on my account.”
Her face pales. “Oh, uh … No biggie. Probably just Gia apologizing.” She fidgets. Her body language tells me she’s lying, but I don’t know why.
“So she’s awake then,” I reply, going along with it. We approach their door. “Wanna come in and talk to her?”
“That’s okay.” She averts her eyes. “It’s late. I’ll talk to her in the morning.” My gaze slides toward her phone, then back to her guilty face, and she smiles at me. “Thank you again … for everything. I really regret that we hadn’t done it sooner, but I take the full blame. I know you tried on many occasions.”
Logan’s voice rings out from inside their room, and she and I look at
each other.
“What the hell was that?”
She covers her mouth, and her face turns red. “My guess … they’re gettin’ dirty.”
I raise my brows, then press my ear to the door, immediately regretting it.
“Ah, yeah baby, you like that?” he moans. A moment later I hear the sound of body parts slapping. “Take all of it, baby. Ah yeahhh.”
Scanning Reese’s giggling face, I ask, “This is what you have to live with?”
She nods.
“Does he always talk like this?”
“More often than not,” she says, grinning. “Wanna take my couch?”
“Absolutely!” I’m surprised she offers, and there’s no way I’d decline.
Unlocking her door, she waves me in. “I can’t promise it’ll be quieter, but at least it’ll be less awkward.” When she moves to the closet, I stride toward the TV and turn up the volume, muting the noises from next door. She brings a blanket and pillow to the couch, and I give her gorgeous body a slow once-over. If I could, I’d stare at her all night. I have been staring at her all night, but it still isn’t enough. My fingers ache to touch her. I do what I can to keep them at my sides.
She sees the way I’m looking at her, and a blush spreads over her cheeks. “I um … I’m going to take a shower. You’re welcome to use it after me, if you want.”
After unbuttoning my shirt, I toss it to the floor. “Thanks. I’ll do that.” Turning around, I set up my bed, unable to get the picture of Reese—naked, soapy, and wet—out of my head. My jaw clenches, and I blow out a slow breath, squeezing my eyes shut. A noise interrupts my fantasy. Glancing over my shoulder, I find her standing in the same spot, watching me with her lips parted. Desire floods her eyes, which does nothing for my already raging hard-on. “Thought you were gonna take a shower.” If she wants me to touch her, she’ll have to ask.
“Right,” she says, clearing her throat. “I-I was going to tell you something, but got distracted.” She blinks. “I completely forgot what it was.” She looks at me the way I’d been looking at her earlier—with a sense of longing.
“Must not have been that important.”
“I guess not.”
When her phone rings beside me, I press the green button and toss it over to her.
She glances at the phone then back up at me. “Crap! Why did you do that?” she whisper-yells.
I cock a brow, confused. “Do what?”
“Answer my phone?”
“I don’t know … to be courteous.” I shrug, “What’s the big deal?”
Her eyes drop to the floor, then a second later it hits me.
The lie in the elevator. “You’re still talking to that asshole. Aren’t you?” I ask,
unable to keep the growl out of my voice.
She backs away, covering the phone. “Quiet! He’ll hear you.”
“Like I give a shit!” My gaze bores into hers.
“I don’t want him to know you’re in the room with me!” she hisses, moving toward the bedroom, lifting the phone to her ear. The only words I’m able to make out are, “Not a good time. No. I’m alone,” and, “That was the TV.”
I stand next to the bed, seething. What the hell’s going on with her? If things are over with him, like she’d said, why does it matter, whether or not she is alone? Kicking off my pants, I sit on the edge of the bed in my boxer briefs, cracking my neck from side to side. I’d recognized that look in her eyes earlier. There was no mistake. She’d wanted me. Hell maybe she wants him too. Fuck that! I won’t share her. And I sure as hell ain’t touching her until she figures this shit out.
A moment later I hear the water running, then rest my elbows on my knees, my gaze aimed at the floor. She must have cut their conversation short. I’d be lying if I said a large part of me didn’t want to step in that shower and claim her as my own, show her who she belongs to. I’m afraid I’d hurt her though. I’m too fired up, and I’d be far from gentle.
“Luke.”
Lifting my head, she stands in front of me, still wearing her dress, chewing on her lip, clearly nervous. She should be.
“I know you’re angry. I’m sorry,” she says softly, her hair piled on top of her head. It shows off her graceful neck. I want to taste the skin there, run my tongue up the side of it, but this isn’t about what I want. “Can you please help me with this?” Biting her lip, she turns around. “My zipper is stuck, and I can’t get it down.” When I stand up, she fidgets, stiffening her shoulders.
“Sure, gorgeous. I’d love to help you take off the dress.”
I hear her gulp.
My fingers touch the spot between her shoulde
r blades. Leaning over, I run my nose along the side of her neck, breathing in her sweet vanilla scent. Goose bumps raise on her skin, and she shutters.
“It’s not what you think, you know,” she says breathily. She tilts her head, giving me more access. “I can explain.”
Using my finger and thumb, I tug on her zipper, bringing it down to the small of her back. Her dress slides off her shoulders, falling to her feet. Without moving away from me, she teases me in nothing but a sexy red bra and matching lace panties.
Placing my hands on her hips, I pull her back against my front, grinding my arousal against her perfect round ass. I let out a groan, and she whimpers, arching her back. I press my lips to her ear. “Explain why you lied to me.”
“I … I was worried it would upset you.”
Increasing my grip on her hips, I say, “You told him you were alone. Why?”
Her breaths come shorter, and she presses against me, but doesn’t answer.
Hooking my thumbs into the sides of her panties, I ask, “Why’d you lie to him?” It takes all my strength not to touch her where I know she needs it most. I want to leave her body aching.
“I … I don’t know, but I swear it’s over between us.”
Not good enough. “Stop playing games.” Grinding into her again, I drag my teeth across my bottom lip. “Mmm. You feel so good.” It comes out as a growl.
“Luke.” She tries turning around, but I don’t let her. It’d be too tempting to kiss that pouty mouth. “I … I’m not playing games.”
“You know where I stand, what I want. Don’t make me break my promise.”
A frustrated noise comes out of her. “You’re driving me crazy!”
“Likewise,” I retort, licking the shell of her ear. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want … I want you to…” she hesitates, “I ... I want…”
Releasing her, I back away, though it takes every ounce of my strength. My nostrils flare. “You don’t know what you want.” She spins around to argue, and I point her toward the bathroom. “Get in the shower.” I climb under the blanket, resting my head against the pillow, with my hands clasped behind my neck.
Reese narrows her gaze on the center of the blanket, where my hard-on makes a tent. “Why are you being so difficult?”
“Figure out what you want, then we’ll talk about it.” My eyes take their fill of her once again. She’s testing my patience. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Reese. Get. In. The. Shower.” Before I bend you over and bury myself inside you.
She lifts her chin in defiance. “I don’t like the way you’re talking to me!”
“Fine. Get in the shower, please, then go to bed.” I close my eyes. “See you in the morning, sunshine.” She grumbles something to herself, then I hear her storm away.
It’s early in the morning, and I’m hard enough to break rocks, glancing at my surroundings, cursing when I find Reese’s purse on top of the coffee table. I rub my hand over my face. Damn, I thought it’d all been a dream. The memory of her tight little body wiggling against me, the smell of her skin, and the sounds of her whimpering, brings a low rumble to my chest. It’d have been so easy to take her, right then and there, but I couldn’t. The universe is set on keeping us apart—always has been.
Watching that dildo put his hands on her these last few months has been torture. I won’t put myself through that again. Hell no. I’ll move out of the condo—make sure there’s some real distance between us—before that happens.
I grab my clothes and shoot Logan a text.
Ready 2 drink, buddy?
Already started. U next door?
Yeah.
Tell me u finally hit that last night.
I snort. Do me a favor. Don’t ask.
Yikes. R U coming to the pool?
B there soon.
After I’m halfway dressed, I take a peek in Reese’s bedroom, noticing she left the door cracked. She’s asleep on her back, wearing a pair of cotton shorts and a thin tank top. Her dark hair is sprawled out over her pillow, and her pink lips are parted. I smirk at the sound of her faint snores. She’s adorable; so adorable that I decide to order her breakfast, as part of a peace offering, feeling guilty for the way I treated her last night.
I’d been a total dick, punishing her for her feelings. I swear the woman brings out the caveman side of me. I’ll spend the rest of my life doing what I can to make her happy. The thought that she might not want the same thing feels like a blow to the chest. Massaging the ache there, I slowly move toward her bed, then gently brush my lips against her forehead. This woman has no idea what kind of power she has over me.
Bagels, coffee, and orange juice—that’s what was waiting for me when I’d woken up this morning. Surprisingly, I’d managed to sleep until ten. Other than the breakfast, there’d been no sign that Luke had been in my room last night. He’s probably still angry with me, assuming I have feelings for Sean.
I’d tried to tell him, but the words just wouldn’t come out right. Seriously, what had he expected? I couldn’t think straight with the way he’d been touching me. With the hard ridges of his body pressed against me, and his hot breath blowing down my neck, he had me at his mercy. Good Lord, it had been so long since I’d felt that kind of electricity. And if I’m not mistaken, he’d been just as turned on. The only difference? The man has the will power of a saint. I have no idea how he does it.
I find Gia lying on her back in her light green bikini, with her hair in two curly ponytails. She’d texted me earlier, saying they’d be at the pool when I got up. “Thanks for saving a chair,” I tell her, spreading out two towels before lying down beside her.
“You’re welcome, sleepy-head.” She points to the small table between us. “Got you a Pina Colada—whipped cream, no cherry.”
“Ahh, thank you.” It looks refreshing, and I take a drink. “Mmm, that’s good. It seems hotter today.”
“Yeah, sweating already and it’s not even noon.”
“How long have you guys been out here?” I squeeze some lotion onto my legs then rub it all in.
“About an hour, give or take. Figured you probably needed the sleep, which is why I texted instead of showing up at your door this morning.”
“How very thoughtful of you.”
“I’m a thoughtful person.”
I shift in my chair uncomfortably, spotting Luke and Logan chatting in the water—sipping on beer. Luke looks gorgeous as usual. I start sucking down my drink, wincing when I get a brain freeze. “So what happened to you last night? Why’d you bail?”
“I didn’t realize how exhausted I’d be from the combination of day drinking and hours spent in the sun. Hence the reason I’m drinking water.” She tips her cup. “How’d it go anyway?” Leaning over, she adds, “And don’t just say in went fine. I know he didn’t sleep in our room last night. Better tell me everything.” A sly look crosses her face. “Uh huh.”
My gaze slides to the pool, then back to her. “Dinner was nice. And yes, he stayed in my room,” I say quietly. “But nothing physical happened. Sorry to disappoint you.”
She eyes me skeptically. “Why am I finding that hard to believe?”
“I swear it’s the truth.”
“Was there kissing? Cuddling at least?”
I shake my head.
“Then why’d he stay?”
“Are you kidding? There’s no way I would’ve made him stay with you two! You like that? Take all of it, baby. Ahhh yeahhh ohhhh yeahhh.” I roll my eyes back for full effect, unable to hold back my grin.
Her big eyes widen. “Oh my God! You guys heard him?”
“We did.”
She looks mortified. “What if other people heard?”
“I don’t see how they couldn’t. He’s a screamer.”
“I’m so embarrassed!”
“Why? It was all Logan. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t heard him before.”
“I wonder if Luke’s given him a hard time about it yet.” She spray
s herself with tanning oil. “So did you sleep in the same bed?”
“Nope. He took the couch and left before I woke up this morning.”
She frowns. “Seriously?”
“Yep.”
“Well that’s boring. Tell me you two talked at least. You obviously had plenty of opportunity.” She arches a brow, hopeful.
I feel Luke’s eyes on me, then glance in his direction. Turning on my stomach, so he can’t read my lips, I say, “There’s so much I have to tell you, Gia. Yes, we talked. That’s all I can say here.” Tipping my head toward the pool, I add, “I’ll tell you about it when we’re alone.”
She flips onto her belly. “Now, you got me really curious. He’s staring by the way.”
“I know.”
We lie on our stomachs for probably twenty minutes, feeling the heat. She wipes the sweat from her brow. “It’s hot, and I’m getting hungry. Wanna get out of here? Go grab some lunch?” She wiggles her brows. “I’m ready to hear about this talk.”
I’m about to agree, but I’m scooped out of my chair, letting out a scream when I’m crushed into a muscular chest. Luke carries me, smirking down at me, as if he were the devil. “What are you doing? Put me down!”
He strides toward the pool, soaking me with his wet, slippery body. My arms are flailing. The tips of his hair drip cold water down my neck. It feels good, but that’s beside the point. “I don’t want to go in … put me down or I’ll hurt you!” I squeal, continuing to fight him, but it’s no use. We’re airborne, and a second later we’re in the water, making a big splash. My laughter has me choking as we come up from under the water. “You!” I cough twice, smacking at his torso. “Are—” Cough. “A dead man!” Cough, cough.
His grin is so wide his dimples are showing. “C’mon. You love when I get you all wet.” He winks, confident. “At least it seemed that way last night.” I fight the urge to smack and kiss him at the same time. He gets a thrill out of teasing me. Well, two can play that game.
Breaking Ryann Page 10