“You smell so darn good,” he murmured.
I pushed him away as he continued to tickle me, sparking to life a yearning inside me that couldn’t come out to play. He was injured after all. “Stop that,” I ordered weakly.
“Hell no,” he growled.
I turned to look at him, suddenly feeling more than noticing the tension coiled in his strong body. I had been too embroiled in my own turmoil to notice Charlie battling his own demons. “You okay?” I asked, pushing a stray lock of dark blonde hair off his forehead.
“No,” he said truthfully. “Not nearly. Two days ago I stood in a room while some asshole held a gun to you.” His fingers delicately smoothed the skin under my chin where William had held his weapon. “I thought I was going to watch you die, and that has me really not okay.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yet you were the one who got shot and when I got all upset over it, you told me I was being silly.” It was awkward to be close to him like this. His injured shoulder was closest to me, his other arm reaching across his body to touch me. I wanted to melt into his warmth, but I didn’t want to hurt him either.
“Come here.” He pulled me and I moved to straddle him, only just barely avoiding his arm in his haste to have me closer. Once positioned above him he smiled, a real honest to God smile, and some of the tension left his body. “Just like this, every damn day,” he murmured.
“Have your meds made you loopy?” I asked, clearly not understanding what he was talking about.
“Every day, for the rest of our lives, I want to go to sleep with you here, with me, just like this.” My heart melted a little at his declaration. “Nothing between us, just you and me, skin to skin.” He lifted the hem of my top and I helped him lift it off. He seemed to sigh at the sight of my breasts and immediately took his one free hand and cupped the weight gently. “You okay with this?” he asked, suddenly a little nervous that I might not yet be ready.
“Oh yeah,” I moaned. “But you’re hurt, so we can’t do this yet.” He chuckled as he teased my nipple and it felt too damn good.
“My shoulder is hurt, not my dick, Betty Boop.” The aforementioned appendage was hard under my ass and I rocked a little, creating a delicious friction between our bodies. “Fuck, baby, get these off and then help me get mine off.” He tugged at my pajama bottoms. I obeyed quickly, and, in too much of a hurry to remove the sling and his shirt, we left it on and I climbed back up to straddle his waist. My greedy hands roamed over Charlie’s beautiful body. It was a masculine beauty, hard and unyielding, yet warm and safe. Finally I settled over his waist and dropped ever so slowly onto his hard length. We both groaned with satisfaction as he wedged deep inside me. “Ride me,” he ordered and I did so gladly. Moving in a slow pace that would normally be almost torturous for us both, was now more than soothing. This was healing. Reminding us that we were alive, allowing us to feel each other both physically and emotionally.
“Just like this, every damn day,” I whispered as I began to pick up our pace, our climax building steadily. Charlie’s eyes latched onto mine as I gave him back the words he gave me. “Without the gunshot wound and sling though,” I added. He grinned and it was wicked and sexy, and I would have come right then if he hadn’t stilled me with his one free hand.
“I’m not gonna let you go, Betty Boop, you should know that right now. You’re mine and I promise to give you everything, this and more, forever.”
I grabbed the hand he was using to still me and brought it to my lips, kissing his palm gently. “Good, because I have no intention of letting you go. And I’d hate to go all stalker girl on your ass.” I moved his hand to my breast and lifted myself slowly, slamming back down hard.
“Fuck,” Charlie bit out as I rode him hard and fast until we both screamed out in ecstasy. I flopped forward, and at the last minute remembered his injured shoulder. My head nestled into the crook of his neck. As he softened inside me, I made no attempt to move, content to lay here like this for all of eternity.
“You think Dillon and Braiden would let us stay with them for a while?” I found myself asking. In a fit of worry, Charlie rolled me to the side, his eyes wide and unsure.
“Did I push you too hard? You weren’t ready were you? Fuck. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in your own home, baby, this is your family’s place. You need this. We can sleep in the spare room, we’ll just put a mattress down on the floor or something.” I put my finger over his lips to silence his rambling.
“Stop having a hissy fit, I’m fine.” He arched a brow. “It’s just, this place is kind of small. I thought I’d talk to the bank and see what I could do in terms of refinancing and maybe, I dunno, expand.” I searched his eyes, hoping what I said next didn’t freak him the fuck out. “It’s not really big enough for three.”
“Three?” he asked, my finger still over his lips.
“You, me and Em, if she wants to move in. I haven’t talked to her about it yet, but I’m hoping she will. And I’m probably being a little ambitious assuming you would want to move in, too, but your apartment burned down, and I thought you might need somewhere to stay.” Now I was rambling.
Charlie grinned. “You don’t need to refinance, if I’m moving in I’ll pay for the renovations. Fuck knows I can afford it and besides,” he winked, “I know a guy who owns a construction company, I’m sure we can get a good deal.”
My body relaxed as I took a deep breath and exhaled. It felt like all the pain and sorrow that filled my heart over the years—starting with the death of my parents—vanished. In its place, a new love existed: Charlie Freakin’ Cole.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Charlie’s hand clutched the back of my neck, pulling me to him. “Not as much as I love you,” he whispered. I would have argued, but I was too tired.
My mind drifted over my short life thus far. If it were to be penned on paper, it would be quite the tale. Born to parents who were snatched too early from the lives of two innocent little girls; two little girls who were molded under the watchful eye of an old-fashioned, yet adoring grandmother; one sister’s devastation over the little sister who left her because her dreams were more important than family, only to find out that the little sister never even came close to her dreams, instead she was thrown to the wolves, her life consumed by pain and degradation. Somewhere in this story of heartache and pain, the lead heroine, I, Rebecca Donovan, found friendship with people who care for me just the way I am—there’s no need for me to pretend to be someone else or to conform into someone I’m not—I am simply accepted. I found a man who looks at me like I am the only person in the world who matters. It’s fitting that he looks at me that way, because I feel exactly the same way about him. Time and time again I’ve been knocked on my ass, but each time I’ve stood back up, dusted myself off and have become a little stronger. I knew I was strong enough to stand on my own two feet, I always have been, but the crazy thing is, I no longer have to. I have people to lean on, depend on. That used to scare me, but now I feel only humble gratitude and happiness at the thought.
In the end I won. I made it out on the other side with a brand new love, loyal friends, and I have my sister back. For a short time, I feared that I was lost, that my heart had been crushed under the cruel hands of a stranger in my bedroom, violating me, invading a place I should feel nothing but safe in. But Charlie helped me find myself again and I finally feel like I can breathe once more. I know I’m not completely healed, I know there will be some lingering nightmares in my future, but in the warm embrace of Charlie’s arms I feel safe.
This is where I would come home to from now on: to Charlie’s embrace, to Charlie’s warmth, to Charlie’s heart.
Epilogue
Charlie
She had cried so many fucking tears, they simply didn’t come anymore. She was dry, spent. I fell to my knees before her and she immediately wrapped her little arms around my neck, hanging on to me for dear life. I held her close and gathered the strength I would need to carry both
of us, not physically, but emotionally.
Braiden had woken us before dawn with a loud pounding on the door, scaring the fucking shit of me, let alone Rebecca. I met him at the door, Glock in hand. She was gone, Emily had disappeared. Braiden had been watching Emily around the clock at the hospital, and finally agreed to go home to freshen up when one of Frank’s boys offered to take up post at her door. He had left to take a piss, was gone not more than five minutes, and she disappeared. They had scrambled for security footage and witnessed, via CCTV, Emily wake to a phone call. She picked up the receiver, and if not for the sharp eye of Braiden and Dillon, who noticed her fist clench and shoulders tighten, we would have assumed nothing out of the ordinary. Emily hung up the phone without uttering a word, her lips sealed shut. She pulled out her IV and slid from the bed. On bare feet, in nothing but a hospital gown, she walked through the hospital, out the front doors, and straight into a waiting limousine.
Rebecca now sat on her couch, her hands hanging limply in her lap, a faraway look in her eyes. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. The bad shit was supposed to be behind us, we were moving forward, together. Braiden looked just as shell-shocked, while Dillon made phone calls from his cell in the kitchen.
“They boarded a private jet ten minutes ago,” he confirmed, strolling back into the living room. Braiden’s attention swung to Dillon. “My source picked out Emily easily, she’s pretty banged up after-all, clearly recognizable. She was in the company of a man who could only be described as Jonas Levier. He’s travelling with one other white male, unknown, but I’ll find out who it is. I’m sure Jonas only has a few people that he would keep that close.” Dillon turned to Braiden. “When you get to the airport, you’re gonna want to find a guy who goes by the name of Marsh. I’ve been assured he’s who you want to speak to, and he will more than likely be armed.” Dillon hadn’t asked Braiden to follow up on this. I guess, like me, he assumed Braiden would go looking for Emily. We had all seen the protective watchfulness in Braiden’s eyes as he had watched over Emily for the last week. He even managed to get her eating and talking. Though not much, it was more than anyone else could get from her. Braiden nodded and moved to stand before Rebecca. He sank to his knees and took her hands in his.
“Rebecca.” His voice commanded attention and I found myself wondering if it was his ‘master’ voice. As soon as I wondered that, I wanted to kick the shit-head’s ass for possibly using it on my girl. Rebecca’s glassy eyes focused on him. Whatever command he had over women, in that moment, I was glad it had roused Rebecca from the catatonic state she had been sitting in for nearly forty minutes now. “I will get her back,” he said with determination. “I promise you I will not come home without her, you have my word.” I didn’t miss the fact that he hadn’t said he’d return with her alive, but I appreciated his resolve, and how much he obviously cared. Rebecca needed that, hell, Emily needed that. Rebecca nodded, her jaw set firmly. She stood with Braiden and gave him a quick hug before wrapping herself tightly around my waist. I wish I could wrap both my arms around her. Damn gunshot wound made me want to kill William Levier all over again.
“I’ll let you know what I get as it comes in,” said Dillon, walking Braiden to the front door.
“Appreciated,” Braiden said rigidly before leaving.
“And I’ll keep you both up to date,” Dillon said over his shoulder to Rebecca and me.
“Thank you,” Rebecca whispered.
I didn’t want to think what Emily might be going through right now. I couldn’t bring myself to understand why she had simply walked from the safety of the hospital and straight into his waiting limousine. The only reason I could fathom was that he threatened Rebecca’s life. I knew Emily would do anything to keep her sister safe. She carried a world of guilt over the shit with William, and she would do anything to keep Jonas away from her only family. I held Rebecca a little tighter at the thought of the abuse Emily had already endured and wondered how much more she could handle before she broke beyond repair. I had no idea what kind of girl Braiden would return to Claymont with, if he returned with her at all. There was no doubt in my mind, she would carry one tortured soul.
THE END
“Strength is overcoming your worst fear.”
Stay tuned for Tortured Soul, Mercy’s Angels Book 3
Coming Early 2014
More reads by Kirsty Dallas
Saving Ella, Mercy’s Angels Book 1
Breeze of Life
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my family who totally get my hazed out writing zone. My mum is a Photoshop genius and the legend behind my covers and merchandise, thanks Mumma. My S.I.L. and manager Kylie, you girl keep this book train perfectly oiled and moving, thank you! My W.P. Beta Team (Mum, Kylie, Trish, Kim and Nadine), thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ami Johnson! Ami, oh, Ami, what the hell did I do before you? My editing queen, THANK YOU for taking the solid, yet rough words I penned and turning them into a polished piece of perfection!
Jess and Rach at Bookslapped, thank you for EVERYTHING! Especially my last blog tour that you totally blitzed, and all future blog tours, because I will use no other, EVER!
Bloggers! Gah, you guys ROCK. I’m going to rattle off a few and miss heaps, ‘cause there are just so many of you! A Love Affair with Books – Seriously, Desiree! BEST...STALKER...EVER! Bethany at The Reading Vixens, My Aussie gals: Jess at A is for Alpha B is for Books and Jodie at Fab, Fun and Tantalizing Reads. Bookslapped, TotallyBooked, Reading Renee, Can’t Read Just One, A Book and a Latte, Novel Grounds, Holly’s Hot Reads, Keepin’ It Real Book Blog, Books Babes and Cheap Cabernet, The Book Hookers, My Fictional Boyfriend and Book Whore Page. These are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many of you that give so much support to indie authors and it goes without saying, but I’m gonna say it anyway – Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Without you, people wouldn’t be reading my books.
Finally, my readers and devoted fans that have jumped on board the Kirsty Dallas rollercoaster and are screaming with me, right by my side! I hope I never disappoint you. I swear I’ll always try and raise the bar, and take that extra step to make my reads perfectly epic adventures! I adore each and every one of you. Keep reading peeps!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Fighting Back (Mercy's Angels) Page 23