Damaged and the Knight

by Bijou Hunter

  Farah eyed me like I was someone she didn’t know. Then, she smiled. “When Cooper said he wanted you to work for him, I thought he was fucking nuts. I hated the idea and I whined until he backed off, but I was seeing you as a kid and you’re a woman now. A ballsy woman, so if you want to help Cooper with his business then I’m going to support that. Coop needs loyal people and there’s no one more loyal than you.”

  Hugging her against me, I sighed. “For so many years, I wanted to tell you sorry because of what I did. I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me though. Our parents were stupid to keep quiet about stuff that needs to be said and I’m glad we talked this morning.”

  “When you moved out, I thought you might resent me for having nice things, even though I didn’t protect you.”

  Wiping my wet cheeks, I reached out and dried hers too. “I love you and everything is going to be better now. We’re going to make life better.”

  “As long as we have each other, we can face things. No more hiding.”

  “No more lies. Our parents fucking suck and we shouldn’t be like them.”

  When Farah nodded, I decided to blurt out my last big secret.

  “Dad planned to pimp me out to pay his debts,” I whispered as the sounds of nearby kids startled us. “When he freaked out and hit me, he said I had a skill, but was too fucking uppity to use it.”

  Farah’s expression hardened. “If we find him, I want him dead too. I never want him ruining our lives again.”

  “I’ve hated him for a long time, but I thought you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Until I got away, I don’t think I could admit what he really was and I hid from the truth. No more hiding.”

  “We’ll never hide again.”

  On that cold morning, just weeks before our first happy Christmas, we made a promise to be more than the lies and pain of our past. In that moment, we were freer than we’d ever been before. Looking into her tired eyes, I felt the change in Farah. The way she smiled made me think she saw the change in me too. We were officially starting over as new women.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  The days with Judd out of town were eventful. After Aaron finished my tattoo, I spent twenty minutes staring in awe at how a beautiful work of art was on my body. Farah looked so impressed that I suspected she might get a tat one day too. While Lark had wanted to come along and see if Aaron could fix her partially complete wingless butterfly tattoo, step brother issues prevented her from joining us. As happy as I was to have my tattoo, I mostly wished Judd was there to tell me his opinion.

  Staying over at Farah’s house allowed us lots of time to make wedding plans. With Skye out of the wedding, Farah was pressed to find a new bridesmaid since she wanted the same number as Cooper’s groomsmen. Once Lark came over for lunch and charmed everyone with her happy personality, Farah found her missing bridesmaid and my little group of friends felt complete.

  Farah and I used those days alone to bond. We did each other’s hair and painted our nails. Staying up late, we talked about the sexy traits of our missing men. Afterwards, we shared a bed to avoid bad dreams. The anti-depressant might have kicked in too because I managed to go most of the time without overly negative thoughts. Even when I missed Judd the most, I didn’t automatically imagine him fucking a woman prettier than me.

  Judd returned during the last hour of my Friday shift. Without seeing him coming as I wiped a table, I knew something was up because two large burly men flinched. Turning, I found Judd moving fast towards me. Before I could speak, his hands cupped my face and his lips were on mine. Murmuring at the deepening kiss, I tossed aside the wash towel and wrapped my arms around his waist. He felt like perfection.

  Judd pulled away and stated to speak then his gaze focused on the two men watching us and smiling. His dark stare killed their enthusiasm and they returned to eating.

  “Back less than a minute and you’re already losing me tips,” I teased, causing Judd to smile grudging. “You taste like peppermint.”

  “I slept for shit and chewing gum keeps me alert.”

  Caressing his lips, I couldn’t stop grinning. “You’re so fucking beautiful and you’re mine. How did that happen?”

  Judd finally gave me a great smile. “I laid eyed on you and was done for.”

  “Do you plan to hang around? Can I get you anything?”

  Judd walked to a nearby booth, slid in, then pulled me next to him. “Coffee would be great, but first I want to enjoy the view.”

  “Did everything go okay?”

  “It’s done. I’ll tell you more later.”

  Nodding, I ran my fingers under his leather jacket and caressed the hard flesh hiding just past the tee.

  “Do you want me to sleep over at your place?” I asked, hoping his plans hadn’t changed.

  Knowing what I was asking, Judd leaned over and nipped at my neck. “After your shift, we’ll go to the apartment, grab a few things, and head home. We’ll pick up the rest of your stuff later. Also, Kathy will round us up groceries, so you and I can spend the next few days hibernating.”

  “I have work tomorrow,” I sighed against his cheek.

  “Give your notice. Cooper said he’s hiring you on as his assistant. Your work duties will be figured out later, but he wants you around. That way, if he doesn’t trust something or needs your skills, it won’t seem strange for you to show up. Plus, this way you’ll have hours open during the day, so I can train you. Get these muscles tight.”

  Grinning, I ignored the men that Judd was again glaring at because they were watching our affection.

  “If I get stronger, won’t that also help my endurance and flexibility?”

  Judd looked away from the men and into my eyes. “Shit, I missed you.”

  Laughing, I cuddled against him for another few minutes then squirmed away to fetch him coffee.

  Soon, I was on the back of his Harley for a quick stop at the apartment. Feeling like a stranger’s place now, I shoved clothes and basics into a backpack then followed Judd to the bike. He glanced around like everything about the place irritated him. Mainly, he was annoyed by the college guys wrestling around in the lamest example of touch football I’d ever seen.

  “Drunk at four is a sign of a fucking moron,” Judd muttered, eyeballing the guys.

  “Who cares? I don’t live here anymore, right?”

  Judd gave me a half grin. “It’s just storing your shit until we move everything to our place.”

  I licked at his lips before climbing on behind him. “You’re so fucking sexy when you get all domesticated.”

  Judd squirmed on the Harley as his jeans ran out of room. “We need to get you naked.”

  “Break a few speed limits then, stud.”

  Giving me a cocky smile, Judd proceeded to drive like a man involved in a race for his life. We nearly drove on the sidewalk at one point. By the time we reached his parking garage, I was frazzled, yet excited to see what all of Judd’s pent up need would feel like inside me.

  Riding up in the elevator, Judd kissed me as he removed my backpack and held it in one hand. Once we were at his place, he fumbled with the keys, too wired to keep his hand steady. I didn’t make things easier by leaning against him and laughing at his desperation.

  “Normally, I have Kathy dump the junk mail,” Judd said, pushing the door open. “I told her to save it though, since I figured you might see something you’d want for your collection.”

  Touched by his gesture, I smiled up at Judd and made a little confession. “I came over once to check on Pearl. I also got naked and rolled around in your bed.”

  “Fuck,” he said, dropping the bags and tossing me over his shoulder. “No more wasting time.”

  As he walked us through the living room, the cat looked up from her perch and meowed at him.

  “Hey, Pearl, I’ll be busy for a few hours. We’ll talk later.”

  Hours passed, yet only our growling stomachs stopped the fun. Judd walked his naked ass into the kitchen, found
a menu, and called the restaurant to order a ton of Chinese. Once he slapped cash on the counter for when the delivery arrived, he returned to me in bed. I laughed at how he barely missed a thrust in the whole endeavor.

  When the food arrived, Judd slid on a pair of sweat shorts and answered the door. I dug out a pair of panties and one of Judd’s wife beaters. The minute he saw me in the oversized tank that didn’t even come close to covering my breasts, I suspected we were heading back to bed.

  “I’m yours,” I promised and the intense look in his blue eyes faded a little.

  “I really fucking missed you, Tawny.”

  Smiling, I smelled the food and shivered. “I missed you too, but we’re not leaving here for a few days. No more missing each other.”

  “I hated waking up without you next to me,” he said, having set the food down and now playing with a lock of my hair. “I hated not hearing your voice or seeing your smile. Once I let myself need you, I can’t live without that feeling.”

  “Have I mentioned how much I love you?” I asked, leaning against him as he dumped mounds of food on two plates.

  Judd grinned then glanced over the food. “We need to carbo load.”

  Laughing, we walked to the living room where he turned on the TV while we ate. After a few minutes, Judd sighed. “Christmas is almost here and we need a tree.”

  Stopping mid-chew, I smiled up at him. “The only time I’ve had a tree was when we visited my grandma for Christmas.”

  “I never bought one for the place. It’s just me, so what was the point? You’re here now and we need a tree.”

  “Can we get one of those small plastic ones this year?” I asked, thinking of all the work involved in getting a real tree. “I saw some pretty ones at Kmart that don’t need maintenance or decorating. We’ll keep it low key.”

  Judd gave me a tired grin. “I’m glad you suggested that because I really didn’t want to deal with a real tree this year. We will need presents though. I haven’t even gotten something for my mom.”

  “After a few days of hibernating, we’ll get everything ready for Christmas. Oh, and Farah wants me to come to the house for Christmas Eve. Will you come with me?”

  Rolling his eyes, Judd continued eating. “Like I’d hang out here alone while my woman eats cookies and drinks beer.”

  “I’m really excited about my life,” I said, watching him intently. “I feel amazing in a way I’ve never felt before and it’s because of you.”

  Brushing hair away from my face, Judd studied me. “You’re an angel with those eyes, babe.”

  As I smiled, Judd set aside his plate then took mine. “Let’s go do something.”

  “Can’t we finish eating first? I need to load more carbs.”

  Judd smirked as he pulled me to my feet then tugged me into the bathroom. With his back facing the mirror, I caught a glimpse of the pirate ship tattoo before I looked away.

  “I want you to see your eyes.”

  Panic struck me and I tried to pull away. “I don’t want to.”

  “Peek around my shoulder and see your eyes just for a few seconds. Do it for me as a reward for sharing my home with a chick, even though I swore I never would. I was such a fool to think I could say no once I met you.”

  Grinning weakly at his comment, I asked, “Just my eyes. Not my mouth. I hate my mouth.”

  Judd kissed the mouth I hated then sighed. “Only your eyes this time. Just for a few seconds, so you can see what I see.”

  Holding onto him as I tilted to my left, I caught a glimpse of my hair and panicked. Pulling back, I took a breath then tried again, this time focusing on his tattoo. Slowly, I moved my gaze from the reflection of the pirate ship to the eyes I hadn’t really seen in years. They were afraid, but browner than I remembered.

  “I have my dad’s eyes,” I whispered.

  “Fuck your stupid dad. Don’t think about him. Think about what I see when I look at you. See what I see and you can learn to love yourself the way I love you.”

  His words giving me courage, I noticed a change in the mirror. “When I think about you and how good you feel against me, my eyes get pretty.”

  Judd glanced over his shoulder and looked into the mirror. “They’re fucking gorgeous. I could stare at them forever and I plan to.”

  Moving safely away from the reflection, I stared up at him and smiled. “I feel brave when I have you with me.”

  “You make me brave too, angel. I never wanted anything more than what I had because I might lose it. When I’d see Kirk playing family man, I’d think that was never going to be me. Hell, sometimes having Pearl around was too damn much. Now, I think about what he has and it seems possible because you’ll be with me.”

  Judd took my hand and we walked back to the couch. “When I was on the road, I saw this commercial about Disneyworld and I thought about how ridiculous it would be for me to be there, playing family man like Kirk does. I tried to imagine pushing one of those stroller things and it seemed stupid. Then, I imagined you walking next to me and it wasn’t so stupid. It was something possible.”

  “I’m not ready to have a kid,” I blurted out.

  Judd sighed. “Thank God. Neither am I.”

  Grinning, I caressed his lips. “But one day, when I’m who I need to be, I think I would be ready. I just need to focus on you and me for a while.”

  “Yes, a million times, yes.”

  “Why did you bring it up, if you’re so against having kids?”

  “Not having kids,” Judd said, running a hand through his dark hair. “Just having them now. I’m still not sure if I can be a decent man for you, so piling the responsibility of being a dad on top of that is too fucking much. I might be older than you, but when it comes to commitment, I’m as immature as a pasty faced teenager.”

  “I find your immaturity really sexy,” I said, leaning back on the couch and lifting my legs into the air. “See how wet it makes me?”

  Judd stared longingly at my panties then exhaled uneasily. “This food can be reheated.”

  “It’ll have to be,” I said, pulling the wife beater down to show off my hard nipples. “All the talk of babies, Disneyworld, mirrors, and every other damn thing that comes out of your mouth got me all kinds of worked up.”

  As Judd ran his index finger down the slit of my panties, I moaned.

  “I have a confession,” he said, sliding off the couch and kissing my panties. “I love polka dots on a chick.”

  “I love polka dots too, but please take them off and show me what else you love.” Judd lifted a brow and waited. “Please,” I added and he grinned.

  “My woman has the best manners,” Judd said, but I had already lost the ability to respond as his fingers began exploring.

  Only hours home and Judd was already making me happier and stronger than I ever imagined.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Christmas shopping was one of the best experiences in my life. Judd and I decided our gifts should be sexy clothes for me from Victoria’s Secret. First we shopped for family. Judd bought a few smelly candles for his mom, a gift card at a classy older woman’s store, plus a plush red bathrobe. I found a pretty red sweater for Farah, a bright pink sweat suit for Bailey, several cute tees for Lark, and a sexy red babydoll for Cooper who would enjoy Farah wearing it.

  Finally, Judd and I focused on picking our Christmas gifts for each other.

  We ended up spending over two thousand dollars at Victoria’s Secret on everything from bras and nightgowns to shorts and sweats. Anything polka dotted was a must. The most entertaining part was how seriously Judd took our search for the perfect clothes for my hot body and his horny enjoyment. He even bought something called a bandeau that looked like a tube top and wasn’t very functional. It was polka dotted though and Judd felt me wearing polka dots was the hottest thing in the world. Well, he also enjoyed stripping the polka dots off me.

  In the dressing room with him, I suffered from the worst kind of giggles. Plus, the intense lo
ok on his face made me certain we would fuck right there. Giving him a naughty grin, I watched him shiver with lust.

  “Stop teasing,” he growled.

  “We can keep one of the sexy outfits for tonight, but the rest are Christmas presents. That way we’ll have lots of stuff to open. I really like opening presents even when I know what’s inside and even if I know I’ll hate it. When I was little, my grandma would buy me blocks to help my brain get better or something. I hated blocks, but I loved the wrapping.”

  Judd caressed my jaw line and smiled softly. “I’m having Kathy track down the nicest fucking wrapping paper on the planet for your first Christmas with me.”

  The tenderness in his gaze shot heat to every nerve in my body. Instantly, I stripped off the new stuff and yanked on my clothes.

  “Let’s get back home. I have needs, stud.”

  “I bet you do,” he said, giving me a cocky grin. “Oh, and I want the red and white babydoll for tonight.”

  “Sure, whatever. Let’s go,” I said, shoving my feet into boots. “Please, thank you, mother may I. Whatever I need to say to make this happen.”

  Laughing, Judd followed after me and quickly paid for the bags of goodies. Even wanting him inside me, I insisted we bring everything upstairs before having fun. In fact, while I slid into the babydoll he liked so much, Judd put together the little white Christmas tree. By the time I appeared to tempt him into nudity, the living room flashed with pink and blue colors.

  “It’s a little girl’s tree,” he said before glancing at me. “Holy hell.”

  “Do you not like the tree?”

  “It’s fucking awesome,” he said, peeling off his shirt. “I don’t know if I want you naked or to keep you in that while I…”

  Grinning, I swayed my hips and made the babydoll’s material swing. “Let’s see how long you can keep this on me?”

  “Shit.”

  “I know you’re horny when you lose the ability to speak in anything other than cuss words.”

  “Fuck.”

  Laughing, I turned away and leaned against the bed before swinging my butt for him.