Monroe, Marla - Long, Lonely Nights [The Protectors 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Marla Monroe

She nodded and after Jenna and Riley chose seats next to each other, she realized she would be left sharing one side of the table with Logan. Resigned, she took her seat and opened her wine cooler. Logan sat next to her. There was barely enough room for the two of them. She wasn’t small, but Riley and Logan were both big men. She and Jenna were hard pressed to stay on the seats. Jenna grinned at her as if she knew what Tina was thinking.

  “Here you go.” Logan passed the platter with the meat so they could take their chicken off the top.

  “Pass the beans, Riley,” Logan said.

  They each filled their plates and started eating. Once they were finished, Tina and Jenna both got up to clear the dishes. Riley reacted first and grabbed the dishes from Jenna’s hands, growling at her. She cringed and ducked her head while throwing her arms over it. Tina immediately tried to cover for her friend.

  “No food fights, guys.”

  Riley set the plates on the table with an angry look on his face. He started to say something, but Tina pleaded with her eyes that he not say anything. His jaw worked as if he fought not to say whatever was in his head. Jenna dropped her hands and began gathering the plates as if nothing was wrong. Her hands shook, though, and Tina knew her friend was embarrassed.

  “I’ve got the platter and utensils, Jenna, if you can get the plates.” Tina picked up the platter and hurried after Jenna into the house.

  “You okay?” she asked her friend.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry. I just reacted. I can’t help it.” There were tears in Jenna’s eyes.

  “Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for. It’s all right. I doubt anyone thought anything of it. Let’s get these washed up and go.”

  They washed dishes together with Jenna drying and Tina directing her where she had seen Logan get the plates and silverware from. They had it all cleaned up in less than twenty minutes. The sliding glass door opened and then closed. Riley and Logan walked in. One had the baked bean dish and the other the potato salad bowl.

  Logan indicated the food left in them. “You want to save any of this or throw it away?”

  Tina held her hands out for the baked beans. “I’ll trash it. There really isn’t enough for a meal.

  “I got it,” Riley said, and walked over to the trash can. Logan followed with the potato salad bowl.

  “You can wash them here and have clean ones to put up when you get home.” Logan handed her the empty bowl.

  Riley placed his dish in the sink after rinsing it out. He made it a point to step out of Jenna’s way when she walked over to the sink. If she noticed, she didn’t indicate it. Tina hoped she hadn’t noticed it. Jenna took the bowl over to the sink and set it on the counter next to Tina. She would dry for Tina this time.

  “Do either of you want a beer or another wine cooler?” Riley asked as he opened the fridge.

  “No thanks.” Jenna didn’t look at him when she answered.

  “None for me either. I’ve had three today. That’s my limit.” Tina realized she was babbling. They needed to leave.

  As soon as she had the dishes dried and stacked, she handed the bowl to Jenna and picked up the two dishes herself.

  “We should be going. We enjoyed the meal though. Thanks for asking us. Jenna, you want to grab the cooler?”

  Riley rushed to open the sliding glass doors for them. “I’ll bring the cooler over for you.”

  “Thanks, but we can get it,” Tina said.

  Logan followed them outside. Tina could feel him staring at her. This had been a complete disaster. She felt for Jenna. Her friend needed a nice stable man to love and cherish her. Somehow, Tina needed to figure out how to help her find one, so she didn’t keep ending up with lowlifes like Todd.

  The men followed them over to her driveway and waited until the women unlocked the door and stepped inside. Jenna set her load on the kitchen counter, then dropped into a chair and burst out crying.

  “Oh, honey. It’s all right.” Tina wrapped her arms around Jenna and rocked her. “Don’t cry.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”

  “I know,” Tina said.

  “Why am I crying when you are the one who is being stalked? I feel like a terrible friend,” Jenna said.

  Tina grabbed some tissue and handed it to Jenna. After she blew her nose, she stood up.

  “I better go. I need to finish the laundry and get some rest. My parents will be here tomorrow for the day.”

  “You don’t have to rush off. You know that. I hate to see you leave this way, Jenna.” Tina squeezed her hand.

  “I’m fine. Really, I’m more embarrassed then anything. I’ll call you later, okay?” she asked.

  “Okay. You better call me, or I will call you, and if you’re in bed, it will wake you up.”

  Jenna smiled a watery smile. “I promise.”

  Tina watched Jenna back out of the driveway, then drive off. She sighed. The two of them were one screwed up pair of women. She glanced over at Logan’s house and noticed the motorcycle was still there. They were good guys no matter what they looked like. She wished Logan liked her. It would make being neighbors so much easier. Yeah, he was attracted to her, but she didn’t need a man in her life. She needed a friend she could count on if she got scared. She wasn’t sure she could count on Logan

  Chapter Five

  “Someone has beaten her before. Did you see how she cringed when I pulled my hand back?” Riley was furious, pacing back and forth in the living room. “Who would hit someone like her?”

  “You know as well as I do that domestic violence is just as prevalent in the rich as in the poor. You just don’t hear about it as much,” Logan said.

  “It had to have been her ex-husband. She told me she was divorced.”

  “You two got kind of chummy for only a few hours of knowing each other.” Logan relaxed on the couch, propping is feet on the coffee table.

  “Well, she’s easy to talk to.” Riley huffed out a breath. “You know, if I was going to stick around, and she wasn’t who she is and all, I could think about getting serious with someone like her.”

  “Yeah, well. Like I told you before. She’s off limits. Just like Tina. They don’t deserve someone like us.”

  “It fucking sucks though,” Riley said. Riley ran a hand over his bald head. His body posture remained stiff, but he turned his attention to Logan.

  Logan could tell the big man had something on his mind other than Jenna. He crossed the room and dropped into a club chair.

  “She told me something that you’re not going to like about Tina.”

  “What?” He had his attention now.

  “Seems that about a year ago, someone broke into her house and tried to rape her. He cut her on the neck and her abdomen. I don’t know how bad. She managed to scream before he gagged her, and someone called the police. They got there in time.”

  “Well, fuck. No wonder she’s so security conscious. I thought it was a little weird to see all her locks and that state of the art security system she has, but now it makes sense.” Logan dropped his feet to the floor and leaned his elbows on his knees.

  “Jenna said she hasn’t gone out or done anything other than go to work and eat out with her occasionally. She used to go clubbing with their friends. Now she stays at home.” Riley folded his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair.

  “And now someone is stalking her.” Logan rubbed his face.

  “Thing is, whoever it was got away,” Riley said. “They figured he watched her for awhile before he attacked her.

  “It could be the same guy then,” Logan said

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. If it is, he isn’t going to give up until he gets what he wants.” Riley crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Or he’s stopped for good.”

  “There is that,” Riley said.

  “I gave her my phone numbers to call if she hears anything.” Logan waited for Riley to say something, but he just nodded his head.

  “Someone used a l
adder and climbed up on her balcony the other night. He must have been watching her then. She has sheers over her French doors so he could have seen inside.”

  “You need help watching her, you let me know,” Riley said.

  “I will. Right now, I’m not sure what to do. She doesn’t need to stay there alone, but she isn’t going to stay with anyone. She would have to come back sometime. If this is the same guy, he has enough patience to wait her out.”

  “You care about her a little more than you let on. This isn’t just being neighborly.” Riley stood up.

  “It’s all it can be.” Logan looked up. “I’m no good for her. We’re both rough men, Riley. The first time I wanted to tie her up, she’d freak out. So, it’s all it can be.”

  “We’re both fucked.”

  * * * *

  Sunday night, Tina stood just inside her balcony doors and looked out. She could barely make out Logan’s back yard. She couldn’t tell if he were out there or not unless she walked outside, but she wouldn’t do that again. Thoughts of his virile body swirled in her mind.

  He had a beautiful body even though she hadn’t seen it up close. Her hands itched to explore it, but he was off limits to her. There was no way she could handle a man like that. He would want someone experienced and adventurous.

  She wasn’t either of those. Besides, he didn’t really like her anyway. He tolerated her and felt sorry for her. Why else would he have given her his phone numbers?

  She hadn’t had a date in nearly a year now, and you didn’t date a man like Logan. You had sex with them.

  You’re not some sophisticated woman who has affairs left and right. He is out of your league.

  Tina turned away from the balcony and climbed into bed. She had to go to work in the morning, so she needed to get some sleep. She glanced at the clock and grimaced, midnight. If she didn’t fall asleep soon, she wouldn’t be able to function. She turned over and willed herself to sleep.

  Logan kissed her. His mouth covered hers and demanded she open to him. His teeth nipped at her lips, his tongue swirled around hers chasing it. When he caught it, he sucked it into his mouth and teased it.

  His hands made short work of her bra and he separated them long enough to pull both it and her shirt over her head. He leaned back and gazed at her breasts, then leaned down and licked each nipple until they stood tall and proud. He mounded her breasts then pinched her nipples until she cried out in need. He bent down and sucked a nipple inside his mouth, then held it with his teeth while his tongue licked it, making her squirm. He repeated the process on the other breast.

  Tina was wild now and pulled on his T-shirt trying to get it over his head, but he was too tall and had to bend over for her to pull it off. His muscular chest had a sprinkling of dark hair across it. She focused on his nipples. She licked first one then the other.

  He grabbed her hair and let it run though his fingers. She unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped them. They gaped enough that she could get her hand inside them, but he stopped her. Instead of letting her undress him, he undressed her. He unzipped her pants and pulled them down along with her panties. He didn’t waste time, but laid her back on the bed.

  He climbed up and knelt between her legs. She whimpered when his hands smoothed over the skin of her inner thighs. He picked up one leg and licked a line slowly up her inner thigh to mid thigh then stopped. He dropped it and picked up the other leg to do the same thing. She squirmed when he rested his hand on her pelvis and just looked at her. The heat of his hand melted inside of her. Her womb contracted, and she thought she would die if he didn’t do something – anything to relieve the pressure building inside her.

  He lay between her legs. She felt his warm breath against her pussy lips. His fingers glided over them, then separated them. He blew across them again. This time the air was cool. She shivered. He swiped his tongue from bottom to top drawing a moan from her. Then he lapped at her like a cat. She felt even more of her juices leaking out, but as fast as they did, his tongue licked them away. She felt the burn deep inside her begin to ignite. His tongue traced circles and other patterns around her pussy, but never touched the one place she needed.

  A finger pushed inside of her and she tightened around it. He laughed and wiggled it. She whimpered when he removed it, but he replaced it with two and she lifted her hips from the bed to meet him. He began licking her again, paying attention to her clit now. She could feel her climax gathering inside her. He pumped his fingers in faster and licked her clit with the flat of his tongue. His fingers found her G-spot, and she called out as the beginnings of her climax broke over her. He sucked on her clit and everything inside her burst. He reared up and placed his cock at her entrance, as she convulsed he pushed forward.

  Tina woke in a pool of sweat with her hands between her legs. She had masturbated in her sleep. She had never done that before. Neither had she ever climaxed in her dreams. She always woke up before she did. She turned over and looked at the clock. It was four. No need to try to get back to sleep. She might as well get up and shower. First, coffee though, she thought.

  Tina turned on the light in her bedroom, and then walked down stairs. She turned on the kitchen light and got a whiff of something in the air. It smelt familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Shrugging, she made her favorite coffee, Southern Pecan. Soon, the smell of coffee drowned out the scent that puzzled her and she forgot all about it.

  The first cup of coffee always tasted the best. She normally drank hers black, but if it were at night or with dessert, she added a little cream. This morning, it was rich, black, and strong. The flavor worked her taste buds over as she sipped. She walked over to the window and looked out.

  It would be another hot day, but it looked a little bit cloudy. They could use the rain, but she hated going to work in it. Maybe it would hold off until she was inside the building. She would probably go in early since she was up so early.

  Tina walked back upstairs to take her shower. She turned on the water and adjusted it then stripped and stepped into the shower. After she dried off, she walked back into her bedroom and smelled the scent again. Maybe it was the perfume Jenna wore. She couldn’t figure it out. It bothered her. The harder she tried to smell it the less she could. Finally, she gave up and searched her closet for something to wear to work.

  Once she had her clothes picked out, she chose her underwear. She was just about to pull out a pale yellow pair when she saw the lavender pair. She didn’t remember buying them, but they were lovely. She picked them up and checked, yes, they were her size. Why couldn’t she remember getting them? It didn’t matter. She chose them and put them on.

  After dressing, she applied the light make up she wore to work and slipped into her shoes. The clock said six-thirty. Wonderful. She really should wait for at least thirty minutes. The sky outside still looked like rain to her. She didn’t want to get caught in it, so she gave in and gathered her purse and umbrella. She set the alarm and locked up. She unlocked her car door and was about to get in when a noise to her right startled her.

  “You’re going to work awful early, aren’t you?”

  Logan stood at the edge of her driveway in nothing but jeans and shoes. She had never seen him up close without a shirt. There was a scar that ran from his right shoulder to his right breast. Another one ran low over his abdomen on the left side. Still, it didn’t take away from the beauty of his physique. She swallowed and realized she was staring.

  “I got up early and decided to try to beat the rain in to work.”

  He looked down at his chest and back up at her. “Anything bother you last night?”

  “No. I just woke up early is all.” She glanced at the sky and continued. “I’ve got to go before it starts to rain.”

  “Have a good day at work,” he said, turned, and walked away.

  Tina saw his back and winced. He had several scars across his back. Some were short lines and others were clusters of raised skin. Funny that she hadn’t noticed them whe
n he’d worked out in his yard during the day without a shirt. She climbed into her car and started it. It was going to be a long day she realized. But, she would get a lot of work done.

  * * * *

  The workweek flew by. Come Friday, she was ready for the weekend. They had been so busy she ended up working late on three different nights. Jenna worked with her, and they got a security guard to walk them to their cars.

  Each of those nights, Logan walked outside and waited while she got in the house. She wondered about it, but was grateful just the same. He didn’t say anything, just watched her get out of the car, unlock her door, and go inside.

  Jenna insisted the man liked her when she told her friend about it. “I’m telling you he does because otherwise, why bother?” she said.

  “I still think he doesn’t like me. I think he feels sorry for me. I know you told him about my break in last year. He has treated me different ever since then.”

  “I didn’t tell him. I promise,” she said.

  “You told Riley, though, didn’t you?”

  “Um, yeah.”

  Friday at noon, she and Jenna where just about to run for lunch when one of the secretaries brought in a vase of yellow roses.

  “Who are those for?” Jenna asked.

  “They’re for Tina. Aren’t they lovely?”

  “Me? I don’t know anyone to give me flowers,” she said.

  “There’s a card. See who sent them.” Jenna pulled off the card and handed it to her.

  The secretary sat the vase on her desk and left. She looked at little envelope. It had her name and where she worked on it. She frowned and looked at Jenna. Her friend shrugged.

  “Open it and find out.”

  She tugged out the flap and pulled out the card.

  You Belong to Me

  Tina dropped the card and backed away from it shaking her head.

  “What is it?” Jenna cried out.

  She bent and retrieved the card. When she read it, she stared at Tina with wide eyes.

  “It’s him isn’t it? It’s the same man who attacked you?”