Scarred (Unlikely Heroes Book 5)

by Leslie Georgeson

  Maybe this was what she’d needed all along: control. He didn’t mind handing over the control. She could have it all as far as he was concerned. He would just lay here and enjoy himself. Let her control everything. For as long as she wanted.

  She let out a breathless sigh against his lips, her hand hesitantly touching him between his legs.

  His breath caught.

  Don’t move. Don’t scare her.

  Her fingers made a tentative sweep down him, then back up.

  Her hand wrapped around him.

  He sucked in a breath.

  A slightly dazed expression on her face, she looked into his eyes. “Does that…hurt?”

  He swallowed. “No. It feels good.” Too fucking good.

  Relief crossed her features. She squeezed.

  The breath hissed out of his lungs. She jerked her hand back, worry flickering across her face. Sebastian grabbed her hand.

  “You’re doing great,” he whispered. “You can touch me however you want. I like it when you touch me.”

  Her gaze searched his. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  She lost her shyness after that. Sebastian lay there while she explored him with her hands and mouth, igniting a fire within him, making him burn with need. It was everything he could do to remain still and keep his hands to himself. Her hot breath, her sweet lips on his skin was almost too much to bear. He needed to be inside her. Now.

  “Emily.” He groaned softly, staring at her head where she kissed along his stomach. “You’re driving me crazy.”

  She lifted her head. She leaned over him, her mouth brushing against his. “Good.”

  Good?

  He let out a soft growl, wrapping a hand around her neck and holding her head in place while he kissed her back, deeply. She wasn’t afraid anymore. He could feel the passion in her kisses, the love in her gentle caresses. She settled more heavily against him, her beautiful breasts squishing against his chest.

  “Show me, Sebastian,” she whispered against his lips. “Make love to me.”

  He groaned. “Yes.”

  And this time…this time he did everything right. Soft, slow kisses, gentle caresses…he brought her to the edge again and again, watched as she soared above, moaning and arching against him. And then…she was ready. He didn’t reach for a condom this time. He didn’t care about birth control at that moment. All he wanted was to make this perfect for her.

  He figured she would want to be on top, be in control, but she rolled to her back and urged him above her. “Hurry,” she whispered breathlessly, her hands on his ass, pulling him closer. “I need you, Sebastian. Please.”

  She rose to meet him, her body warm and welcoming, and drew him in, slowly. She arched up against him, pressing her hips against his, taking him deep. He let out a soft moan of pleasure, gasping out her name. She exhibited none of the terror he’d sensed from her before, just pure welcoming heat. And love. Her love consumed him, devoured him, bringing tears to his eyes and warmth to his heart.

  She loved him.

  So this was what making love was. This was so much more than sex. Making love was the simultaneous joining of bodies and joining of souls. He’d never experienced anything like it. They connected in that moment, becoming one body, one soul. Sharing something beautiful. Something incredible. It rocked him to the depths of this soul.

  She’d stripped him bare, leaving him open and raw, vulnerable. It scared the hell out of him. But it felt so good. He felt…free. For the first time in his life.

  Emily had brought his soul back to him, minus the demons. She’d brought his heart back to life. Her love enveloped him, warmed him, made his chest squeeze with overwhelming joy.

  Emily wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t with him because she wanted something from him. She was with him because she cared about him. He felt her love more strongly than if she’d told him her true feelings out loud.

  For the first time in his life, Sebastian felt loveable.

  He felt truly loved.

  * * *

  Sebastian lay sound asleep next to her in bed. After they’d made love, he’d kissed her one last time and rolled over on his back. He’d fallen asleep almost instantly. That had been a couple of hours ago. Emily had lain beside him, contemplating what had just happened between them, and let him sleep. Now she leaned up on her arm, gazing down at him. He looked so peaceful. So relaxed. So handsome. His dark hair was mussed, his lips curved in a half smile, his jaw dark with two days’ growth of beard stubble. She imagined he was exhausted, since his insomnia had kept him up all night. Would she be able to help cure his insomnia? Would she be able to help him fight off his demons someday?

  Now that she’d experienced what she had with Sebastian, Emily could honestly say there was no comparison between being raped by a cruel, sadistic bastard and being made love to by a tender, caring, wonderful man. None at all. Being in Sebastian’s arms was unlike anything she’d ever imagined. It sounded cliché, but there were no words to describe how he’d made her feel. Sebastian might not know it or accept it yet, but she’d felt the caring in his kisses, his tender caresses. A man couldn’t touch her with such tenderness and caring and not have some feelings for her. If he chose to contemplate what was between them, she had no doubt he would come to the same conclusion she had. Would else could it be but love? She’d fallen hard for him. Had he fallen for her as well? And if he had, would he admit it to himself? Would it scare him so bad he turned tail and ran?

  Emily snuggled against him, laying her head on his chest. He murmured something in his sleep, his hand coming up to brush through her hair. She was so happy, so in love, she didn’t want to ever get out of bed. Her heart nearly burst with joy. She still couldn’t believe she—Emily Montgomery—was with Sebastian Wolfe. She’d made love with Sebastian Wolfe.

  Does this make me his girlfriend?

  Don’t overthink it, Emily. Just because you spent the night with him doesn’t mean you’re a couple now.

  But I want to be. I want to be with him forever.

  I love him.

  What if I’ve become nothing more than one of his floozies?

  No. He’s not like that anymore, remember?

  Sebastian rolled her beneath him and nuzzled her neck. “Whatever’s going on in that mind of yours that’s making you scowl, stop thinking it.” He cupped her face in his palm. “Let’s just enjoy this time together okay?” He kissed her, then leaned back and looked into her eyes.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you.” She didn’t dare talk about what was between them just yet. She didn’t want to scare him away.

  He yawned. “It was time I got up anyway. How long was I asleep?”

  “A few hours.”

  His gaze met hers. He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “How…do you feel?” He winced. “I mean…”

  “Wonderful.” She trailed a finger over his collarbone and across and down the eagle tattoo. “Thank you. For being so patient with me, for showing me…how beautiful it can be.”

  His eyes filled with tenderness. And relief. “No, thank you. You showed me how beautiful it can be too. Making love is so much better than having sex with strangers.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “I don’t know what it is about you, Emily, but you’re healing me, melting the ice around my heart, making me feel again.” Color crept up his neck and into his face.

  “I’m glad.” She smiled. It was time to lighten the mood. “Will you, um, tell me about your tattoos?”

  “My tattoos?” He sat up, giving her a full view of his splendid torso. “Sure. What do you want to know?”

  Emily studied the eagle tattoo on his chest, then the cheetah across his lower abdomen. “They’re…interesting. Unique. What do they mean?”

  He shrugged. “The eagle represents freedom. The cheetah, speed.”

  She’d already suspected as much. “Freedom and speed,” she murmured, glancing up into his eyes. “Things you crave.”

  He held her g
aze. “Yeah.”

  “I’m pretty sure you don’t have any problem finding speed when you need it. But what about freedom? Do you think you’ll ever find it?”

  He lowered his gaze. “I don’t know. Maybe you can help me with that.”

  Her heart melted. Oh Sebastian. “You know I will.”

  His gaze darted back to hers.

  “I’m hungry. Let’s cook some breakfast.”

  She giggled. “Breakfast? It’s almost noon.”

  He shrugged. “Lunch then. I’m starving. You wore me out.”

  She slapped playfully at his arm. Their gazes locked.

  They smiled at each other. Sebastian rolled away and tossed the covers aside, slid his legs over the side of the bed. Emily stared at his beautiful body as he strode naked across the room to the shower. He turned and caught her staring.

  “Wanna take a shower with me?”

  Heat bloomed up her neck and into her face. Did she?

  He paused, a smile curving his mouth. “I’ve already seen every inch of you naked. I’ve already tasted every inch of you. There’s no need to be shy.” He winked.

  Her blush deepened. Emily sat up. She let her gaze roam down his perfect, masculine body, then back up. Yes, she wanted to take a shower with him. Wanted to wash him, wanted to feel the sleek wetness over his skin as she stroked a sponge over his hard, muscular body. She’d never done something like that before. It seemed so…naughty.

  As if what you’ve already done with him wasn’t naughty?

  She slid her legs over the side of the bed and strode toward him, naked, her head held high. She’d never been so daring, so brazen before.

  His gaze swept down her body, lingering for a long moment at the juncture of her thighs, then crawled back to hers.

  Her cheeks flamed.

  “Did I ever tell you how gorgeous you are?” His voice was husky.

  She lost her self-consciousness in the possessive look he sent her. “No. Did I ever tell you how gorgeous you are?”

  He snagged her around the waist, scooped her up into his arms. Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her as he carried her into the bathroom.

  * * *

  They didn’t leave his house for three entire days. They spent seventy to eighty percent of that time making love. Sebastian didn’t realize he could be a marathon lover. He’d never wanted to be a marathon lover before. As soon as they finished making love, they rested for a few hours, watched a movie, had something to eat, took a lazy shower, then made love again. And again. And again. Emily seemed as eager as he and initiated nearly half of their lovemaking sessions. It made him feel good that he was able to help her overcome her trauma and she trusted him enough and liked being with him enough to stay with him like this. He’d never had a woman stay with him like this before. He’d never wanted one to.

  He’d never been so happy, so content before. He didn’t want it to end.

  Emily was his new addiction.

  But she was better than any drug, alcohol or other addictive substance. It wasn’t the sex he was addicted to. It was her. Everything about her fascinated him. Being around her soothed him, pushed the demons back, made him feel again. She’d snared him like one of the talons from his eagle tattoo, hooking him deep. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to get enough of her. He didn’t want to contemplate what it meant. It was easier to admit to having a new addiction than to admit he was falling in love. These feelings were still so new to him. For now he wasn’t ready to admit to anything more than that she was an addiction he couldn’t fight. An addiction he didn’t want to fight. She made him happy and right now that was all he cared about.

  By the end of the third day, worry slithered in. They hadn’t used any form of birth control. He was concerned about an unwanted pregnancy.

  “Emily?” he murmured, brushing her long hair back behind her ear.

  She settled her head against his chest and smiled up at him.

  “Yes?”

  “We need to talk about something.”

  Concern flickered across her face. She sat up. “What?”

  “Birth control.” He paused. “We haven’t been using any. Is there a possibility you could get pregnant?”

  She considered that for a moment, then smiled and snuggled back against him. “No. It’s the wrong time of the month. I should be okay for a few more days at least. Maybe even a week.”

  Relief swept through him. “I think we need to discuss birth control. Are you okay with…using condoms now?”

  “Yes. I think I’m over that now. You cured me. When we get back to Idaho, I will get on birth control pills.”

  “Good.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. One less thing to worry about.

  Then a deeper worry twisted his gut. Travis would be showing up soon. Sebastian needed to get Emily out of here before then. He had no idea what his father might do to her if he found out about her. Sebastian had been selfish to bring her here, to put her in danger like this.

  But she makes me happy. I can’t let her go. I’m addicted to her.

  Then you’ll have to do something about Travis or he’ll take her away.

  “I’m taking a shower.” Emily smiled lazily at him as she slid her legs over the side of the bed. “Then we can make dinner and maybe go for a walk along the beach.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He rose from the bed, followed her into the bathroom. “But I’m joining you in there.”

  She giggled and pulled him into the shower with her. “Then it might be awhile before we eat.”

  As she brushed her smooth, perfect body against his, her nipples hardening against his chest, he forgot all about the threat of his father.

  He forgot about everything but her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “He’s at the Venice Beach house. He brought the girl intern with him.”

  “Did he now?” Interesting. Travis smirked at his reflection in the rearview mirror, then scowled as he continued picking at the stubborn piece of steak that was wedged between his teeth. If he wanted to pick up a chic tonight, he needed to get that piece of meat out of his teeth first. Fuck.

  He’d just finished eating at the Long Horn Steakhouse. He’d originally had a date with Bertrice from the beauty shop, but the bitch had stood him up, so he’d eaten alone. He hated eating alone. He preferred witty banter with a slutty, scantily clad woman he could ogle across the table. Though the meal had been good, it would have been a lot better if Bertrice hadn’t stood him up. The only thing that would make him feel better now would be getting laid. So he’d parked his truck down the street from the corner where he’d seen the girls hanging out. These girls weren’t cheap, which pissed him off even more. Bertrice would have given it to him for the price of dinner. Now he’d have to pay double. Or triple. Damn that bitch anyway.

  Travis had been watching the tall brunette on the left. She was a looker. He bet she knew how to please a man. She better not charge too much. She was the one he wanted to take home tonight. Yep. If he couldn’t have Bertrice, the brunette hooker would have to do.

  “Trav? You there?”

  Travis cleared his throat. “Yeah. Got distracted by this hot chic on the corner.” He tried to recall what Marty had just told him. Sebastian. Yes. He remembered now. “So loverboy’s come out of his celibacy. Huh. He must have changed his mind about the fight. Why else would he be in L.A.? He probably brought her along so he could show off his fighting skills. Women love that kind of shit. Tell me, is she pretty?”

  Marty snorted. “Aren’t they always? Yeah. She’s smoking hot. They rode the motorcycle all the way here. I’ve been tailing them since yesterday morning. Right now I’m sitting out here on the street in front of the house, laying low. You know cops patrol this area regularly with all the rich snobs that live here. I’m probably going to have to move soon before one of the neighbors notice me. You owe me big time for this. I want a hefty cut from Saturday’s fight.”

  Travis lifted the phone away from his ear
and glowered at it. “I’ll pay you what I think you deserve and nothing more!” He took a deep breath, let it out. If Sebastian didn’t show up for the fight, Travis would lose all the money he’d spent setting everything up, and that didn’t sit well with him. He’d splurged on the meal at the Long Horn in celebration of the upcoming event, in anticipation of a huge win. Arranging the fights wasn’t easy, or cheap. Travis expected Sebastian to hold up his end of the deal. Or the boy would suffer like he’d never suffered before.

  If you defy me, Sebastian, I’ll make you scream like a little girl.

  But if Sebastian was in L.A., he had to be there for a reason. And Travis could think of only one reason why Sebastian would be there.

  “Sebastian either decided to do the fight…or he’s fucking with me.” Would the boy be stupid enough to defy Travis? Didn’t he care about the noose Travis had around his neck?

  Shit. Maybe he doesn’t care. Maybe he really is fucking with me.

  “I’m coming there right now.” Travis flicked the toothpick aside and started the truck. He’d have to pick up the brunette another time. He had more important things to deal with. “I’m calling Chris to fly me to L.A. I’ll call you when I get in. I’ll need you to pick me up from the airport.”

  “Okee dokee.” Marty hung up.

  Travis had to see Sebastian’s new woman for himself. If the boy still balked when Travis got there, then the woman might be exactly what Travis needed to get Sebastian to behave.

  Slamming the truck into gear, he headed for the airport.

  It was time to remind the boy who was boss. Sebastian would do this fight. Travis would make sure of it.

  * * *

  With a towel wrapped around her sarong style, Emily left Sebastian to finish up in the shower. She went to her duffle bag on the floor next to his. Bending over the bag, she searched for something to wear. She pulled out a pink summer top and a pair of jean shorts. Rising, she turned toward the bed. Something in Sebastian’s bag—something out of the ordinary—caught her eye. Black in color, with what looked like eyeholes, it stuck out of the top of his duffle bag. A mask?