“Are you sure we can’t change your mind?” Warren asked and pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. If they kept this up she was going to be in trouble.
“The ATVs, guys. We need help,” Culhane said.
Warren pulled back and gave her ass a tap. “Come on, let’s get the ATVs ready for the ride.”
Cali stood there and watched them move the ATVs and then do some sort of signals with their hands and laugh. She didn’t know what they were doing, but then Culhane offered her his hand.
“You’re coming with me, beautiful,” he said and she looked up at him with all those muscles and tattoos and hesitated. He squinted at her as if she’d insulted him somehow. She really didn’t know Culhane too well.
“I’m sorry,” she said and took his hand. “You’re just so big, and all those tattoos are intimidating, I guess.”
When they got to the ATV, he placed his hands on her hips and looked down into her eyes.
“You’ll be safe with me. I promise. Plus, I won the draw.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. He stared into her eyes and she felt his thumb caress her chin and her lower lip. He had such a deep, dark expression on his face, and when he licked his lower lip, she felt her pussy actually spasm. “You’re so beautiful and sweet. Don’t let my size or my tats scare you, okay?” he said and she nodded. She looked at his arms. Even his neck had some tattoos along it.
“They must have hurt when you got them,” she said to him.
He gave her a wink. “Every one of them has a meaning.”
“Are we ready?” Shimmy called out, again sounding pissed off.
She glanced at him and he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking away and had his helmet on, raring to go.
“Is he okay today?” she asked Culhane.
Culhane reached for a helmet and began to put it on her head with her assistance.
“He’ll be fine. He woke up that way,” he said, but by his sad expression and uncertain tone, she wasn’t convinced. Something was up with Shimmy.
Culhane checked then rechecked her helmet before he got onto the ATV. He motioned for her to get on behind him and had shown her where the side handles were, and also explained that holding on to him would be smarter. As everyone began to head out, Warren and Shimmy led the way with her and Culhane behind them, and Dominick in the rear. She gripped on to Culhane tighter as he picked up speed and they headed into the woods. At first she was kind of scared, but then she began to really like the feeling. She felt safe with Culhane, despite a few jumps he took and how close he came to some trees. She was laughing and screaming at certain turns and then just enjoying the open areas and the time out with the guys. She noticed him bypass a large puddle of mud and come close to the trees next to it. Maybe he was making sure she didn’t get muddy. It was thoughtful and kind of unexpectedly sweet for such a big, intimidating man like Culhane.
They were at it for a while when she heard Culhane yell out and come to a stop just as Shimmy made what appeared to be a dangerous move. Culhane looked back at Dominick, who took off past them and went after Shimmy.
She didn’t know what was going on, but once they made it over the hill and back around to the right, they were back by the lake and the trucks again. When she and Culhane pulled up, Dominick and Warren were pointing at Shimmy and yelling.
Culhane got off the ATV and then helped her get off and undo the helmet. The moment she and Culhane got closer, the yelling stopped and Shimmy looked pissed off and out of it.
“Shimmy, what’s wrong?” she asked.
He exhaled. “Nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Are you mad at me or something?” she asked.
He squinted at her. “Mad at you? No way. I’m fine. Do you want to do some more riding?” he asked, and before she responded, he put his helmet back on and tapped his seat.
“Your turn to drive,” he said.
She held her helmet on her hip. “I don’t know if I want to.”
“You want to. There’s no reason to be scared. I’ve got you. Please, Cali, come on with me,” he added and she wasn’t certain why she read into his words or saw them as a plea, but she did.
“Okay, but don’t get mad at me for going slow.”
She put her helmet on and then walked over to the ATV. Shimmy showed her how to work it and a few minutes later she was sitting in the driver’s spot, holding on to the handlebars, and taking off. She was going very slow at first, trying to get used to the feel of it, plus Shimmy giving her directions with his chest pressing up against her back. He had his thick thighs against her thighs and a hand on her hip before she even started moving. The rumbling of the engine, the vibration under her thighs and ass, plus Shimmy’s large, strong arm around her waist and the way he used his other hand to help her steer the ATV when she looked over her shoulder to ask him something and totally let go of the handlebars, losing a little control, was a lot to get used to.
“Don’t let go. I’m not going to give you any more directions. Just steer, don’t hit anything, and enjoy it.”
She gripped the steering handles, revved the engine, and stepped on the gas. Culhane, Dominick, and Warren were in front of her and soon they were farther ahead. She was determined to not go so slow she looked like a scaredy cat. These guys would think she was a baby. The more trail they encountered, the more daring she got. Maybe it was because she had Shimmy behind her, holding her tight and ready to assist if she screwed up? She wasn’t certain, but soon she was picking up speed and even hitting some hills so fast she caught air.
Behind her she could hear Shimmy cheering her on and hollering like some kid. She hollered too and took the next set of hills at a higher speed. Then, feeling the steering bars catch some dirt, they skidded out a little. She felt her heart lodge in her throat but Shimmy thought it was great, so she pulled back out of the turn and kept going. She was shocked when she caught sight of the others just ahead. Before there had been a big mud puddle they avoided. Culhane said they would get muddy so they didn’t speed through it. So when she passed Dominick, Culhane, and Warren and headed for the mud puddle, none of them expected the big dip, including her and Shimmy. The mud splattered up and over them and she stopped.
“Shit!” Shimmy yelled out and she felt the wetness all over her. As Dominick, Warren, and Culhane stopped a few feet back, they laughed at them.
“Step on the gas hard, hold the steering handles tight,” Shimmy told her and she knew exactly what he had in mind.
“Oh my God, I got the bike all dirty.”
“ATVs, not bikes,” Culhane said and shook his head.
“We’ll have to help haul you out of there now,” Dominick stated and started to get off his ATV.
“No you don’t. I can do it.”
“No, Cali,” Warren said, raising his hand up as he approached. He, Dominick, and Culhane were off their ATVs and ready to help. Shimmy gave her hip a tap and she turned, held the steering wheel, and stepped on the gas hard. Mud shot up like a sprinkler and hit the three men, covering them in mud and water.
“You better move your ass, woman, they are pissed,” Shimmy said and she heard them yelling, looked back to see them shaking the mud off, but then Culhane hopped on the ATV and Dominick and Warren followed. She was shaking with excitement and laughter as she headed back to the lake and skidded to a stop. She turned off the engine and Shimmy got off first, then she did. All three men pulled up and it was Culhane who came stomping toward her. She had already pulled off her muddy helmet and set it down. She was dripping with mud and water, too.
“You’re going to get it,” Culhane said and she screamed and started running around the truck, but then Warren was on the other side, covered with mud and looking pissed. When she turned back, Culhane lowered his shoulder and lifted her up over his shoulder. His hand held on to her ass and she was screaming and laughing for him to put her down and saying how sorry she was and she didn’t know. A few seconds later they were in the water. Culhane dunked her befo
re pulling her up into his arms and kissing her.
Their minutes of laughter and teasing turned into a serious make out session. He explored her body with his hands as he devoured her moans and they fought for control of the kiss. She, in return, ran her hands along his bulging muscles, then up to his hair as he lifted her higher. She straddled his hips and he held her close, bringing her deeper into the water. When their lips parted, she pushed her hair back and he smiled.
Giving her ass a squeeze, shocking her, he started bringing her back to land.
“We need to get you out of these muddy, wet clothes.”
As he set her feet down, she held on to his shoulders and he reached for the elastic on her pants. She wore a very tiny black bikini that barely covered anything. When Culhane saw it his eyes widened and he leaned closer to kiss her lips. Releasing them, he kissed along her shoulder to the scar from the bullet wound. She grabbed his face and shook her head. She didn’t want him looking at it and focusing on it.
He squinted his eyes at her, but then the whistles started, and as she turned, Warren and Dominick were walking down the beach wearing bathing suit trunks and looking like supermodels. She smiled wide as she and Culhane carried her clothes and shoes up to the beach, meeting Warren and Dominick there. That was when she saw Shimmy leaning against the truck and drinking a beer.
Dominick wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest.
“You look hot, baby,” he said and kissed her. She was immediately lost in that kiss, and as he explored her body with his hands, she used her hands to stop him from cupping her breasts. He released her lips and pulled back.
“Too fast?” he asked. She nodded. He brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them.
“Come here,” Warren said to her. Dominick gave her a wink and then headed into the water. She saw Warren’s eyes land on the scar on her chest, but then he gave her a smile. He traced the thin string of her bikini on her hip and looked at her with desire and need in his eyes. “So this was what you were hiding under those baggy pants?”
She looked at his chest and all his sexy muscles. She ran her palms up them and to his cheeks. “And you’ve been hiding, too,” she said and lifted up to kiss him. His lips met hers and then he was pulling her close, running his hand along her ass as he walked her backward. She pulled from his mouth to stop him.
He squinted at her.
“Shimmy?” she said.
“Give him some time.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just give him some time.”
But she couldn’t do that. Why was he acting like he was hiding?
“I’ll meet you guys in the water,” she said to him and started to go, but he held her wrist.
“Just let him take his time.”
“I won’t push him,” she said and an uneasy feeling instantly hit her. What was Shimmy capable of? She made her way up to him and he stood with one arm crossed over his chest and under his arm. The other hand held a beer.
“Come in the water with us,” she said to him.
“Not yet. You go and have fun,” he said and his eyes landed on her scar. Was he turned off by it, or not interested in her like his brothers seemed to be?
“Shimmy?”
“Just leave it, Cali, and have fun in the water with the others.”
“But I want to have fun in there with you, too. Come on.” She reached her hand out to grab his and he held it tight. He looked at his brothers. A quick glance over her shoulder and they seemed in position to storm the beach and intervene. What the hell was going on?
“Okay, you’re kind of scaring me.”
His eyes widened. “It’s nothing, Cali.”
“Well, obviously, it is. Tell me, Shimmy. I like you and I thought today was about getting to know one another?”
He guzzled down the bottle of beer and then stared at her. “You’re perfect. You’re gorgeous, young, sexy, and smart. You have a sense of humor and you’re incredible.”
She stared at him. He exhaled.
“I’m not, okay. I’m scarred, ugly, and just filled with crazy thoughts in my head. Sometimes I lose it and yell or just need to be left alone.”
She held his hand and brought it against her chest. She placed his fingers over the scar on her chest.
“PTSD sucks.” His eyes widened and she continued, “Just wanting control of the nightmares, but you can’t stop them. The only way is to not sleep, or to place yourself into a state of exhaustion.”
He moved his fingers and put the beer down and stepped closer to her. She loosened her hold and he traced the scar.
“You too?” he asked and she nodded and swallowed hard.
“I don’t know why I’m even here, Shimmy. I’m used to hiding, to remaining unseen and unheard from, yet I came here because you and your brothers make me feel different, and like you understand my fears. Maybe I’m wrong,” she said and looked away, lowering her hand.
He snagged her around the waist and held her close. He used his other hand to caress her cheek and then hold her shoulder. “You’re not wrong, you’re perfectly right. I have scars, too. Bad, nasty ones that make it hard for me to let down my guard and show them.”
“I know that feeling all too well. You and your brothers are the only ones other than Marlena and her husbands that know I was shot.”
He stared at her and then pressed his lips to hers. When he pulled back, he slowly turned around and she saw the four bullet-hole scars. He was shot four times in the back. She covered her mouth and then saw him look at her. His eyes widened and she didn’t want him to think she was turned off, so she hugged him from behind. She kissed his skin and he turned her around in his arms and kissed her hard on the mouth.
She realized that this was why Shimmy was in a bad mood all morning. He was worried about her reaction to seeing him with scars. They shared so much in common. This connection was instant and the attraction wild.
* * * *
When their lips parted, Shimmy carried Cali down to the water. He held her in his arms and felt the immediate connection and desire. He wanted her. In his arms, in his bed, underneath him where he could ravish her body, claim her as his woman, and keep her safe and protected. She went to move from his hold and he tightened his arms.
“Stay right here. I got you,” he said and she smiled at him. His brothers all waded around them in the water, talking about her wise guy move and about the ATVs. When he released her so she could wet her hair, he and his brothers watched her lean back, lift her arms and smooth her hands through her hair. She dunked under and when she came up, her tanned body glistened and the scent of her shampoo filled the air around them. Then she lay back in the water to float on her back.
“This is so beautiful. How did you ever find it?” she asked.
Shimmy looked at his brothers. Culhane still had a firm, serious face on—typical when it came to revealing anything personal. He seemed to be letting his guard down with Cali, but they were limited on their information on her.
“We used to swim here as kids,” Culhane said.
She lifted up. “Really? Like you grew up in Repose?”
“Sure did. Our parents have a place a few miles down the road.”
“Parents?” she asked and stood up. She squeezed out her hair and pulled it to one side.
“Our mom and four dads,” Dominick said to her. Her mouth opened and then she bit her lower lip and nodded. She dunked down again in the water when Warren pulled her deeper by her hand.
“I can’t stand if we go deeper.”
“I’ve got you,” Warren told her and brought her a little deeper and closer to Culhane and Dominick. She held on to Warren’s shoulders, and when he cupped her head and hair, she lowered her mouth to his and kissed him.
* * * *
Warren couldn’t believe what he saw. Cali wasn’t going to come swimming with them unless Shimmy came in, too. Warren and his brothers watched her and Shimmy talking and could see Shimmy getting
angry until she placed his hand over her chest where the scar was. He still wasn’t overlooking that. He didn’t like seeing the scar on her perfect body. And, boy, was she perfect. Her skin smooth, her curves sexy, and he couldn’t seem to get enough of kissing her. When she reached down to stretch her leg, he released her lips and she smiled.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, the bandage was pinching me but I’m fine,” she said.
He caressed along her thigh. “We should get out and check it.”
“Okay.”
When she went to move, he held tight. “I’ve got you,” he said.
Warren carried her out of the water. Dominick and Culhane laid out a big blanket and Warren slowly eased her down onto it. He moved to the side and Shimmy took position on her other side and placed her bag down.
“Where is the stuff?” Shimmy asked.
“I can get it,” she said and eased up.
“No, we’ll take care of you,” Shimmy said to her.
Warren looked at her leaning up on her elbows. Her breasts poured from the tiny black bikini she wore, and the bottoms were super skimpy.
“That is some bathing suit,” Warren said and traced the ties on the side of her hip bone.
“In all honesty, this is more of a laying out sunbathing suit. I normally wouldn’t wear this to go swimming, but I haven’t gotten a chance to do much shopping.”
Shimmy caressed her thigh and then began to remove the old bandage.
“How about you only wear it around us?” Shimmy said to her.
“Yeah, I think I like that idea,” Dominick stated.
“Oh, really?” she asked and then gasped.
“Sorry, it stuck to part of the stitches, but at least they’re dry,” Shimmy told her. Warren gave her a wink.
“Want a cold beer?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said and looked at Shimmy.
* * * *
“Most girls like shopping. How come you don’t?” Shimmy asked as he finished wrapping her knee. She sat up and watched him put the stuff back into her bag.
“I didn’t say I don’t like shopping. I just haven’t had the chance to really do any since getting here.”
The Battlefield Series 5: Breaking Through the Pain (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 11