Like a train hitting the brakes, I halt at the sight in front of me. I press one hand against my chest and the other on my cheek. So many memories were made here. So many reasons I love this place. I genuinely believe a part of me will always belong here. I stumble forward, my legs shaking, but I power on as much as I can. I stop at the bottom of the tree. I swear it’s gotten bigger. But one thing that hasn’t changed or disappeared are the carvings I made in the trunk.
I run my finger across them. Memories flood my mind and I lean forward, resting my forehead against the tree. Stupid, I know. It’s only a tree, but it means so much more to me than it just being a tree. It was our place. The place the three of us met. The place we would hang out every day.
It was our safe place.
“Izzy,” he calls to me, my eyes glancing up at his stunning face. He really is very beautiful. Some guys are handsome, but Brax is much more than that. His dark hair falls perfectly without him making any effort whatsoever. His flawless skin always did look so healthy and tanned, even when we were just kids.
“Why?” I say, banging my fist against the tree. “Why can’t she be the mom I so desperately need?”
“Baby,” He sighs heavily, approaching me warily. “There’s something not right. Her behavior is not normal.”
“You think?” I say, snapping my head and widening my eyes at him. “After everything I’ve been through. After everything that has happened,” I choke out, trying with everything I have not to allow the tears to fall.
“Don’t cry, baby. Don’t let the bitch get the better of you. You have me now, and that’s all that matters. It was always meant to be us. Just you, me and Travis, and if I knew anything about that crazy best friend of mine, it’s that he would want us to be together. United as one.”
“He loved you, just as much as he loved me too,” I say, resting my weak hand against his face. He leans in closer, his body almost touching mine. Heat spreads through me at the feeling of him being so close.
“Sure. Everyone loved me,” he chuckles, tilting his head to the side. “Not sure they still feel the same now.”
“Does it matter what anyone else thinks?” I say, swallowing the emotion in my throat. “I know the real you. I know your heart is pure.”
“Yeah that’s me,” he interrupts me mid-sentence. “Real fucking angelic.” His fingers trail my neck, working until he’s clutching the hair at the back of my neck. His hold is possessive, but not aggressive, and I love that he makes my skin feel so alive, even with the simplest of touches. “You know,” he whispers, “I always thought our first time would be here. Up against this tree. Just you and me.”
“Quite the poet,” I whisper, letting out a little laugh, the heat rushing to my cheeks.
“Why, you look like you’re blushing,” he smirks. His fingers work in a small circular motion against my scalp. He uses that hand to bring my lips closer to his before he places a soft, sweet kiss against them.
“I don’t want you to be sad. I know I can’t change the past, but I will do everything in my power to make our future, your future,” he nods his head toward me, “the fucking best possible.”
I pull in the corner of my lip; my ragged emotions soften, and my heart swells.
“Let me love you, baby. Let me love away the pain I see behind your eyes.”
His words tickle against my swollen lips and I press against him as I melt a little inside. He takes my hand in his, pressing his muscular, toned body against my tiny frame. His fingers trail down my arm, goosebumps immediately form as he links his fingers through mine.
“I’m yours, Brax. Always have been, always will be.”
A guttural moan escapes him as he crashes his lips against mine and I reciprocate, opening my mouth to allow his hot tongue access. We deepen the kiss. It’s hot and messy, but it’s also so right. He’s the perfect distraction and my body craves his touch. Wherever his hand touches me I seem to get a burning sensation.
His palm wanders to the button of my jeans, tugging as he tries to free me from the material that separates us. I reach down, taking over as he lowers his zipper, his hooded eyes fixed on me as he does. He grabs my ass and in one swift movement my feet leave the ground, my legs wrapping around him as he holds me up against the rough trunk of the tree.
“I want you so bad, baby,” He groans into my mouth.
Everything about this moment is messy, needy, like a kid eagerly stuffing candy into his mouth. Brax tips my head back, forcing my eyes to meet his.
“I love you,” his voice is barely a whisper. He bends his knees a little, lining himself up at my ready entrance. My body tells me I want this, just as much as my mind does. I’m so wet for him. There’s nothing slow or gentle about the way he enters me. There’s no teasing this time. It’s just pure animalistic need. In one instant and a very hard thrust, he buries himself inside me. The pleasure so great that it borders on a delicious kind of pain. My body jerks with every deep thrust, my arms wrapped so tightly around the man who owns my heart. “You’re mine. After all this time. You’ve always belonged to me. You took my heart and claimed it. It’s all yours, always,” he grunts as he fucks me hard and deep. I can’t fight back the moans that escape me, my insides clenching with every thrust.
Over and over again he works furiously, his rhythm wild and fast. Everything I need right now. He’s barely begun when the pressure becomes so much I start to crack until I feel like I’m about to shatter, breaking.
“Brax,” I cry out his name, my body being worked until I find myself falling, convulsing around him in waves. The pulsing is endless as he drives into me harder and harder while I buck on his cock; my head falling and resting on his shoulder as I ride out the long waves of the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever had.
I’m still coming when Brax’s thrusts became erratic and even more frantic. Faster and faster, he pounds into me until I don’t know if he’s pushing in or pulling out. He lets out a long, animalistic groan as he stills, coming deep inside of me, filling me with his release.
I ride out my orgasm as he thrusts into me with small, more shallow movements.
“Holy fuck,” Brax exclaims, setting me down, his arm firmly wrapped around my waist as he stumbles back. Taking a few steps backward he collapses on the ground, pulling me on top of him. I let out a squeal as we fall, very ungracefully onto the grass.
“Brax,” I screech through my ragged breaths. His name was as much as I could manage. I’m lucky I can still breathe after that.
“What?” he asks, eyeing me with a smirk. I roll off him, straightening my clothes. I glance over to him doing the same thing, his body almost immersed in the green grass that has overgrown around our tree.
“Well, that was, uh, unexpected,” I say with a giggle, a warmth spreading through me as I realize this guy is the reason I can still smile. I rest back down, my head on his chest, sheltered from the sun as we lay in the shade.
I use my finger to draw circles against his chest, my mind flashes back to the time I spent with that monster. I feel the bile rise in my throat as I fight back the memories that try to force their way into my mind. I concentrate on the feel of his lips against mine. The way my stomach feels full of butterflies when we are together. Reaching up, I trace my finger across my lip as I allow the good to push past the bad.
“What is it?” He asks, narrowing his eyes on me.
“What?” I say, lifting my head until our faces are just a few inches apart.
“I lost you for a second.”
“Good thoughts,” I say with a nod.
“You sure?” he asks, his forehead crinkling as he does.
I nod, allowing my eyes to flutter shut.
“I know you’re strong, but it’s okay to fall apart. I’ll be here to pick up the pieces. No one expects you to just act like nothing happened and get on with your life. What you went through, what that bastard did to you,” he grits his teeth together, the muscles flexing in his neck as he does. “Well, that’s got to have an effect on yo
u.”
“It does,” I say, pausing to take in a pent-up breath. “And I’m sure as time goes by, my struggles will be more at the forefront. But right now, being here with you, well that kinda helps push away all the nasty thoughts.”
“Glad to be of assistance, Ma’am,” he smiles widely, and I can’t deny how hard my heart is thumping and how good I feel here in his arms.
“I’m serious,” I say tapping him lightly on the chest. “Everything’s a mess. My head is a wreck. But right now, none of that matters. What matters is us. The future we’re going to make together.”
“I say we live out the rest of our time together under this tree.” He wags his eyebrow, his face lighting up as he teases me playfully.
“You know, I think I’d like that.” I reach up, tugging on a few loose strands of hair that have fallen on his face. “Just you and me. Sounds perfect!”
His hand cups the back of my head, bringing me back against his chest. I lay there with nothing but the sound of his heart beating.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A sound I could listen to all day. One I will never forget.
We lay holding each other, his arms wrapped around me for what seems like forever. Yet it will never seem like long enough. I could stay here with him forever. When he eventually sits up, he pulls me with him.
“We should make a move, baby.”
“I don’t want to,” I mock pout, fluttering my eyes at him.
“Fuck, you look so damn cute.” He presses his hand against his crotch, my eyes following as I realize he’s trying to force down his erection. I stifle a laugh and he glares at me.
“Don’t you dare laugh,” he says teasingly. “This is all your fault.” He grabs my hand, pulling me through the grass as we make our way back to his bike. The closer we get to Mom’s house, I shudder, the feelings flushing through me as I remember our brief conversation.
“Are you okay?” Brax looks at me with wide eyes.
“Sure. Just get me away from here,” I say, jerking my head toward the house I never want to step foot inside again.
We arrive back at Brax’s house, my new home, my eyes wandering the street. It’s so quiet around here now. The street has definitely improved over the last six years or so.
My attention is caught by Brax waving his hand frantically in front of my face. I look at him with confusion.
“I gotta get in, baby,” he chuckles as he wiggles on the spot. “Bathroom,” he says lifting his brows. I laugh a little, following him to the front door and watch as he races off up the stairs. I make my way into the kitchen, hunger growling in the pit of my stomach. I open cupboard after cupboard, searching for something to keep the hunger at bay. I shake my head as I struggle to find anything beyond canned food. I shut them, noticing a fruit bowl on the side with two bright green apples inside. I reach inside, biting into the crunchy apple, only to be startled by a faint knock on the door. My eyes glance to the stairs, hoping that Brax might make a reappearance. I swallow the mouthful of apple, slowly walking over to the door. I press up onto my tiptoes, lining my eye up to the peephole. All I can see is a head full of red hair. I reach for the handle, pulling open the door slowly; making sure the chain is fixed in place.
I look through the gap of the door and gasp like someone sucked the air from my lungs. My shaky hand reaches for the chain, removing it and opening the door fully.
“Jazz,” I gasp. “What are you doing here?”
“So, it’s true then,” she says stepping forward and I immediately step backward, suddenly wary of her intentions.
“W…what?” I ask, my voice wavers a little.
“That you are out, silly. Here with him,” she nods her head, her eyes look beyond me. I turn to see Brax walking toward me, head down, phone in his hand.
“Yeah, uh, that’s Brax,” I answer her. “What do you want, Jazz?”
“Jazz?” Brax’s voice booms across the room. His footsteps thud against the wooden floor. “Get out,” he roars.
“But, why?” Standing there she wraps her red hair around her finger, a smug smile creeping across her face.
“Jessica, I’m not fucking shitting you. Get the fuck out of my house, now.” He yells at her with venom in his voice, his nostrils flare and his eyebrows pull together.
I whip my head back and forth, confused by the whole situation. What is Jazz doing here and why is Brax calling her Jessica?
“Wait, you two know each other?” I ask, pressing my fingers against my lip, biting a small bit of skin at the side of my mouth.
“Oh yeah. We go wayyyy back. Ain’t that right, Braxton?” she drawls.
He marches toward her, grabbing the top of her arm, pulling her toward his snarling face.
“You need to fucking give me some answers, NOW. Let’s start with how the fuck you know Isabelle.”
She presses her finger and thumb together, sliding it across her lips. “My lips are sealed,” she pouts.
“What?” I say slamming my hands against my side. “So, you know… Jessica? And your name isn’t Jazz?”
“Her name is definitely Jessica,” Brax growls. “But what I really want to know is how she knows you, and why the fake name? This is something to do with that text, isn’t it? You said you knew where she was.”
“Ugh, get your hands off me.” She moans, her face contorted with disgust.
“She works for that monster. Or at least she did.” I jump in, my eyes glaring at her as the smug look on her face never falters.
“Is this true?” Brax bellows, kicking his leg out and closing the door. “Were you fucking working for Alvrez all along?”
“Everyone has to earn a living, and boy did he pay well.”
Brax thrusts out his arm causing Jessica to fall with a thud to the floor. He turns, rushing over to the kitchen drawers, pulling out his gun. He races back over before Jessica has had time to even sit up, stepping over her and pointing the gun down at her face. He holds it so still, both hands clasped around it.
“No, don’t,” she squirms, her hand waving ever so slightly. “You don’t want to do that!”
“Oh, believe me I do. For years you were a whore, hanging around Carter, throwing yourself at anything with a fucking dick.”
“You told me to go…” she tries to interrupt, but Brax barely gives her a chance to respond.
“You were a troublemaker. It should have been done months ago. So, what? Was this some elaborate plan to get back at me? Because I gave you the brush off?”
“It’s not like that…”
“So, you were working with him all along. Feeding him information the whole time. Carter will be fucking pissed. Another reason why I should sink this bullet into that bimbo fucking brain of yours.”
“It was a job. You don’t get to say who I work for...”
“Time’s up, bitch,” he says, hunching his back as he rests the gun against her forehead.
“I wouldn’t do that,” she rushes out, gulping for breath. “If I don’t walk out of here, I have men waiting in that car that will give the word to the Savages. They’ll tell them, Brax. That it was you who killed their man. You know, the one that attacked Tara.”
Brax’s face falls, a huge pent-up breath escapes him.
“Let her go, Brax,” I coax, stepping closer, tugging on his hand.
“I can’t.”
“You have to. We’ll figure this out.” I say, glaring at her. “Just let her go for now.”
He looks at me. His eyes are dark and full of anger. “She knows too much. She could be bluffing.”
“It’s not worth the risk.” I exhale loudly.
“Get Carter on the phone.” He nods down to his pocket. I reach in, pulling out his phone and dialing Carter’s number.
The line rings only a few times.
“Didn’t take you long to come running back…” Carter says as he answers the call.
“Carter, this is serious.” Brax shouts loud enough for his voice to be heard on the speaker.<
br />
“What’s wrong?” His tone is gruff and I shudder at the sound. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s my inner uneasiness I feel about Carter.
“Jessica is here. Apparently, she has been working for that cunt, Alvrez.”
“Get rid of her,” he orders. There was no hesitation. No second chances, just a clear-cut decision.
“Here’s the thing. Looks like your cousin has been blabbing her mouth about the Savages. You know, about what happened? And now this bitch is blackmailing me. She has guys outside that apparently know this information and will feed it back to them if she doesn’t make it out of here alive.”
“Fuck,” he yells. “Hold tight, I’m sending my men around.”
“No,” Brax snaps. “Not here. Too many witnesses.”
“So, what? You want to let her go?”
“What choice do we have?” he says, stepping back, the gun still pointed at her. He looks at the phone in my hand. “I’ll call you back,” he says with a nod. I disconnect the call, handing him the phone. My eyes glance to the window that overlooks the driveway. A black truck is parked outside. The windows down a little but I can’t make out the driver.
“Can I go now?” she snarls, slowly getting back on her feet, her palm held out as she looks warily at Brax. I can no longer control myself. Stepping toward her, I pull my hand up and slap her across the face. The contact makes her head fall to the side.
“Fucking bitch,” I say shaking my hand. It isn’t often that I swear, but I’ve never felt better letting those words slip from my mouth. The contact stings the palm of my hand, tingles overtake any other sensation.
“Who are you working with?” Brax demands.
“Alvrez,” she mumbles, her head falling forward as her eyes drop to the floor.
“But…he’s dead. I saw Helena stab him. He can’t be alive. No one would survive that.” I interrupt, my heart thumping erratically.
“You’re wrong.” Jessica lifts her head slowly, her eyes narrowed and focused on me.
“He’s very much alive. And he wants his revenge, Isabelle.”
I wrap my fingers around my throat as I turn to walk away. Her words play over and over in my mind.
The complete scars series: Books one-four Page 20