She’d given blow jobs before, but not once had she seen the look of what she could only describe as love in the eyes of the man. He smiled down at her, his hands resting on her shoulders, guiding but not restricting. Ever the gentle man, despite the strength he exuded in every other part of his life. The dichotomy intrigued her.
She grabbed his hips, her fingers squeezing the hard muscles of his ass as her mouth sank down on him again. She relaxed her throat, her lips almost reaching the base. His hips flexed slightly, the movement pressing his cock deeper.
“You feel so good around me.”
His words were rough, sexy. In this moment, she felt strong, powerful, and in total control. This man was at her mercy. She slid him out of her mouth and blew on the tip before taking him in again. She sucked and licked and stroked until she felt him growing thicker. She opened wider, moving to take him farther, but his hands pushed against her shoulders and he pulled away. She looked up at him, his eyes heavy with desire.
“No. I want to be inside you.”
In a flash, he grabbed a condom. Lowering her back to the couch, he joined her, his naked body covering hers with delicious warmth. He kissed her again, his hand stroking her hip before shifting to her core where she wanted him the most. His fingers tickled and teased, her body writhing beneath him uncontrollably. She tried to raise her hips into him, to drive his fingers further inside her, and he obliged, shifting his fingers and stroking her intimately. Within minutes, he had her climbing to another climax. He tilted his hips and pushed her higher and higher until she tumbled over into another orgasm, her body clenching his fingers.
“Yeah, baby. That’s it,” he whispered into her ear before he withdrew his fingers and positioned himself, thrusting inside while she still pulsed with her release. She clutched his back, clawing at his skin in a desperate need to feel all of him. He pushed even deeper inside her, the sensations overwhelming her. He drove into her harder and faster, slamming his hips against hers until she screamed.
“Joey. Oh, God. Oh, my God,” she moaned as he continued, finding his own release with a sustained groan.
And with that groan, Joey ruined her for every other man. She’d never known a man who could be so strong, so masculine, so… alpha, and also be so incredibly gentle, sensitive, and caring. Joey was the complete package, something she’d never find again. And she didn’t want to. That thought rattled her as much as the intensity of their lovemaking had.
Chapter Seventeen
JOEY SPRAWLED OVER Brittany, his skin soaked in sweat and his breathing ragged. How could being with her get better each time? She’d been so open to him as he pleasured her against the door and then again as she’d taken him in her mouth. An intriguing mix of strong, powerful and sensitive woman, he never knew which one he would encounter when. But he was interested in exploring each part of her, for as long as she’d let him.
And that was what scared him. He’d thought he’d had this type of relationship with Shelby, but look what had happened to that. Was this different enough? He was older, more mature. Maybe he and Shelby hadn’t been ready for that type of commitment when they were younger. But now? That was a different story.
He rolled, his back to the couch, tucking her under his arm and running his hand down her hair until her breathing slowed. He lay there for a long time, watching her sleep and thinking about how much his life had changed since he’d met her on Friday.
His body had barely relaxed toward sleep when his cell phone beeped. He scanned the room and spotted his jeans, the pocket glowing from the call. He gently untangled his limbs from Brittany’s and left her sleeping on the couch as he grabbed his phone and headed down the hall to his bedroom.
He clicked to answer.
“Hey, boss.” Carla’s somber tone had him standing up straighter.
“Carla. What’s up?”
“Rachel came in for her shift tonight. I thought you’d want to know.”
Joey blew out a breath. This was a good sign. He had planned to spend the night with Brittany, but those plans were out the window. He couldn’t miss this chance to see Rachel. Maybe she’d talk to him since she was alone. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll be in in a bit.”
“Aren’t you off tonight?”
“I was, but I want to be there with Rachel. Don’t tell her I’m coming. She probably thought I wouldn’t be in, and I don’t want to scare her off.”
“You got it. See you in a bit.”
He clicked End and lowered his head against the wall, drawing in a couple of deep breaths. This thing with Rachel was a problem, one he feared would get worse before it got better.
“Do you have to go to J.J.’s?”
Brittany stood at the end of the hall, his T-shirt hanging off one shoulder.
“I’m sorry I woke you. Carla called. Rachel came to work tonight and I want to be there to see her.”
“Great. I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t need to. Really. You’re on vacation. Why don’t you stay here, watch a movie, and chill? I’ll be back later.”
“No, really. I want to. But you go ahead and head out. I’ll be by later.”
Joey dragged her into his arms, drawing strength from her. She didn’t resist, her soft body pressing against his in all the right places. How had this wonderful woman barged into his life just when he needed her most? Now that he’d found her, he wasn’t letting go. After placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, he stepped back from her. “Okay. But I have a bit of a problem, since you’re wearing my shirt.”
“Oh, if that’s the only problem…” With a twinkle in her eye, she pulled the shirt over her head, baring herself, before extending her hand. The shirt dangled from a single finger. “There you go. You can head out now.”
Her hips swaying, she sashayed by him, through his bedroom and into the bathroom. After a final wink, she closed the door behind her, and he heard the sound of the shower.
He pictured Brittany in the shower, her body caressed by the streams of water. Her hands sliding over herself as soap bubbles streamed down her skin. He could jump in with her. It wouldn’t take long.
Who was he kidding? If he stepped in the shower with her, he wouldn’t be getting out of the house anytime soon. Rachel needed to be his focus now.
He dressed quickly, tucking his wallet and his keys into his pocket before locking the door behind him. He figured Brittany would feel safer behind a locked door. Especially after Walt.
There had been a look in her eye when Walt had cornered her that concerned Joey. One he hadn’t seen before. A deeply held fear was his best guess. He’d comforted her afterwards, and she’d said she was fine, but he wanted to find out more about what had put that look in her eye.
Her car was parked beside his truck in the driveway. He would have expected a rush of nervousness at this sign of how far she’d burrowed beneath his defenses. Instead a feeling of warmth washed over him. She was here with him, at least for now, and he liked it.
He wanted more. One week wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. After all of his years of meaningless one-night stands, he was off the market. Brittany had captured him hook, line, and sinker. He never thought he’d find himself in this place again. After all of this time, he finally understood the draw, the strength, that Lucas said he got from Sarah. Joey felt the same. Brittany was it for him.
They could make this work if she wanted to. He sensed she might, but something deep down kept her from fully embracing what Oak Grove had to offer. She needed to overcome whatever hesitation she had. Joey could show her she could have the best of both worlds.
That’s it. I need to show her.
He made a few quick calls before he climbed out of his truck at the bar. Everything was in place for tomorrow night.
Rachel’s rusted-out sedan sat in a spot near the entrance. Thank God she was still here. As much as he wanted to be with Brittany, to talk to her, to share his revelation, his attention needed to be focused solely on Rachel right now. A
nd what he could do to help her.
After walking in the back door, he greeted Diego and the staff bustling around the kitchen, preparing for the dinner crowd. He confirmed they were set for the evening rush and then headed toward the front.
Joey peered through the half window separating the kitchen from the bar before stepping into the restaurant. Rachel was wiping down tables in the dining room while another waitress took an order beside her. The waitress stepped back, not noticing Rachel, and bumped into his sister. Rachel jumped, her arms up in front of her in defense. Dammit. This was not good.
Joey rushed through the swinging door and onto the floor as the waitress took a step back. With a wild look in her eyes, Rachel didn’t respond immediately. Joey approached her, a greeting on his lips so as not to spook her again. “Hey, girls, how are you tonight?”
“Doing good,” the other waitress said as Rachel snapped out of her trance and lowered her gaze.
“Great. Rachel, how are things?”
“Fine,” she mumbled, her attention still fixed on the floor.
Anger bubbled up inside him. Anger at Shane for turning Joey’s happy, vivacious sister into the sullen woman before him. “Rachel, do you have a minute?”
“I need to finish busing these tables,” she murmured, shuffling from side to side.
“I’ll send Carla out… Hey, Carla,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Can you finish up busing these tables.”
“You got it, boss.”
He placed his hand on Rachel’s lower back, feeling a hint of her spine and ribs beneath his palm. Damn Shane. She wasn’t eating right or taking care of herself. That needed to stop. He guided her gently behind the bar, through the kitchen, and into his office, closing the door behind him. He settled her on the couch and then joined her, but she kept her head down, her hair hanging in front of her face. He couldn’t see her eyes, couldn’t get any sign of what was going on inside her head. He sat beside her a moment, his hand resting on hers, hoping to pass some of his strength on to her.
“Honey, I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’m fine.” She still wouldn’t look at him. Pain speared his chest and settled in his heart at the sight of his once-strong sister sitting here broken, her shoulders hunched over.
He paced across the floor. On the far wall hung a picture of his family—all of them, Rachel included. It had been taken a couple of years ago, and everyone was smiling and laughing. None of them were kids anymore. The family was different now that they were all grown. But they were family, and family took care of each other. Except for recently. He hadn’t been doing a good job taking care of Rachel, and it was clear she needed help. He slapped his hand against the desk. “Dammit, you are not fine.”
She jumped when he yelled at her. Crap. He shouldn’t have yelled. He knew better, and he hated that he’d frightened her. He rushed back to her side, lowering himself slowly to sit beside her again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. We’re all concerned. You don’t seem yourself, and you haven’t been for a while. And we never see you anymore unless you’re with him.”
Rachel straightened her shoulders but still averted her eyes. “His name is Shane and he’s my boyfriend.”
“I know his name, dammit, but if he’s done this to you, he’s no good for you.”
“He hasn’t done anything to me. I just have a lot going on. I’m really busy.”
“Busy doing what? We hardly see you anymore. Are you still taking classes?”
“No, Shane said we didn’t have the money.”
“You know Mom and Dad would have helped.”
“I don’t want their help. They’ve helped enough.” She flung her hands into the air.
Joey flinched. Where had that anger toward their parents come from? “What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. Forget I mentioned anything.”
He brushed the hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear. He chucked her under the chin with his knuckle, forcing her to look at him. Her eyes appeared sunken, the wrinkles at the corners pronounced. The circles under her eyes were darker than before, and the thick makeup streaked didn’t hide the telltale bruising.
“Dammit, he’s hitting you.”
Rachel flinched.
As angry as he was, he had to stop yelling at her. He was no better than Shane. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell again. I’m so scared for you, honey. That’s all.”
“I’m just clumsy. I ran into the door getting water last night. It’s nothing. I swear.”
“I don’t believe you.” He threaded his fingers through his hair. “I swear, I’m gonna beat the shit out of Shane.”
Without warning, she stood, shoving her finger into his chest, her eyes fiery. A bit of the Rachel he knew shined through. “You will do no such thing. I told you, I ran into a door. He didn’t hit me. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to work. I need the money.”
She stalked by him, threw the door open, and stormed out. He closed his eyes, his fists clenched, and drew in several deep breaths. He mustered every bit of control he had to keep his feet rooted to the floor when what he wanted to do was march out and track Shane down.
Someone knocked on the door. Had Rachel come back to talk more? But instead of his sister, he found Brittany standing on the other side, a worried look on her face. “Am I interrupting? I saw Rachel rush through the kitchen on my way back.”
He held his arms wide and she moved easily into them. He squeezed her tight, resting his head on hers. The fresh scent of her flowery shampoo and subtle aroma of her perfume enveloped him. “God, I needed that.”
“I take it you talked to Rachel.”
“I can’t get anywhere with her.” He released Brittany and stalked across the office again. “I think Shane’s hitting her.”
The worried expression in Brittany’s eye had been replaced with… fear, maybe. He couldn’t quite define it, but something had changed.
“What makes you think that?”
“She wouldn’t look at me, and when I finally brushed her hair off her face, I swear it looked like she had a black eye.”
“Did you ask her about it?”
“She told me she ran into a door, but that’s bullshit and I know it.”
Brittany rested her hands on his shoulders. “Let me talk to her. It can’t be easy having you interrogating her—” “
“I didn’t interrogate her.”
“I’m sure you don’t think so, but she has three big brothers… that has got to be intimidating. Maybe she’ll talk to me.”
Why would Brittany want to stick her nose into his family’s dirty laundry? “I don’t know...”
“It can’t hurt to try, can it?” She stroked his arm, her touch calming his racing heart and prickly nerves.
“I guess not.” He’d grasp at any hope right now to help Rachel.
“How about you stay back here? We don’t want her getting spooked if she thinks you’re coming after her again, okay?”
Joey dragged her into his arms. How did he get so lucky? Every guy in New York was a fool for not already snapping this wonderful woman up. “Okay.”
She stepped away, and, with a final look over her shoulder, walked out of his office, pulling the door closed behind her. He stared at the door for a long time. Hopefully Brittany could get through to Rachel, because he was running out of ideas. And he was afraid he was running out of time to help his sister.
Chapter Eighteen
BRITTANY DREW IN a deep breath, gathering the strength to talk to Rachel. Seeing Joey, with his fists clenched at his sides, had flashed Brittany back to the days when her father raised his fist, or his open hand, to her mother. Brittany and her sister had had no one to turn to, no one to help them. She couldn’t stand by and watch anyone else suffer in silence.
She leaned against the wall outside Joey’s office. She couldn’t go out there like this. Discussing what had happened to her growing up wasn’t something she was comfortable with.
She hadn’t told anyone, even Karen, about her childhood. Instead, she’d tucked it away and left it behind, along with her parents, as soon as she’d left home. She spoke with her mother from time to time, mainly to make sure he hadn’t killed her, and to let Mom know she was okay. She’d never expected to find that life on a weekend visit to Oak Grove. But she shouldn’t be surprised. Another small town, another abusive man. But unlike at home, she would take action. She’d offer Rachel the lifeline that Brittany never had.
No woman should ever be at the mercy of a man’s fist, but as long as Rachel refused to admit what her boyfriend was doing to her, she’d never take steps to get out. Just like Brittany’s mother.
Brittany walked through the kitchen and into the bar, spotting Rachel standing at the window, staring out into the parking lot. Not interested in talking to anyone, certainly not someone she didn’t know.
Drinks would help break the ice. “Hey, Carla. Can I get a couple of sodas?”
“Sure thing. Is Joey okay?”
“He’s gonna work in the back for a while.” Brittany shifted her gaze to Rachel, hoping Carla understood.
Carla returned a slight smile and, with a knowing expression, placed two glasses on the bar. “Here ya’ go, sweetie.”
“Thanks. Can you cover for Rachel for a little while?”
“You got it.”
Brittany grabbed the glasses, the liquid sloshing as her hands shook. Could she do this—talk about her past with a stranger? She had to. This woman needed her help. If Brittany didn’t help, she’d be no better than their so-called friends growing up who ignored their mother’s bruised and battered body. No better than the ones who’d believed only what they’d wanted to believe. Which was, of course, whatever her father had told them.
She drew in a big breath. You got this, girl. You’re strong now. You can help Rachel find her strength.
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