Broken Series

by Dawn Pendleton

  “You’re crazy,” I whispered.

  “Crazy about you,” he retorted and leaned his forehead against mine.

  I didn’t fight him. My arms went around his waist and I moved my face away from his, scared to death my morning breath mixed with coffee and dry-heaving would repulse him. I rested my cheek on his shoulder and just held onto him. He was the support I needed more than anything in the world. When he was near me, I felt like I could overcome the looming darkness. I heard his sigh of contentment as his arms gathered me closer to him.

  He lifted me up and set me on the counter, my thighs spread around his hips. He nuzzled my neck, his lips kissing my skin.

  “I’ve missed you,” he whispered against my throat.

  I tilted my head to the side to give him better access and groaned. “Me too,” I admitted, my fingernails digging into his back while he worked his magic on me.

  I was lost to everything but the sight and feel of him against me. He smelled incredible, too. I inhaled his scent and let go of everything. All the stress that had been weighing me down was lifted, just by his presence.

  His hands crept under my shirt and lifted it, exposing my breasts to his watchful gaze. I watched his gaze go dark as he spotted the bruise on my shoulder, but he didn’t stop. He covered each breast with his hand and gently rubbed my distended nipples. I sucked in a breath, my earlier nausea gone as desire filled me.

  I undid his belt and popped the button, slowly sliding the zipper down, reaching in his shorts and grasping him fully. I was rewarded with his harsh groan. He sucked on my neck more and dropped one of his hands to my panties. I was already wet and he groaned again when he felt it.

  “I want you,” he whispered against my ear, dragging my underwear to the side so he could touch me. He didn’t waste any time with preliminaries; he thrust two fingers deep into me and I arched against him.

  “Yes,” I whispered back, lost to everything but him.

  He yanked my shirt off and tossed it on the counter beside us, then pulled himself free of his shorts and boxers. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a condom, rolling it rolled on before I could do any more than stare at him. When he pressed himself against me, I scooted to the edge of the counter, anxious to get closer to him.

  All thoughts fled, except for getting as much of him as I could. It didn’t matter why he was here, or what he wanted from me; all that mattered was this – us. My breathing picked up again, and although I wasn’t as limber as I would have liked, Baker did all the work and pushed into me, filling me so completely I cried out.

  He stayed there for a moment, his eyes closed in ecstasy as he savored the feel of me. When his eyes opened, he looked at me intently and pulled out just a little. I instinctively brought my knees tighter around his hips, afraid he would leave me. His signature smirk greeted me and then he thrust in again. I threw my head back and his mouth came down to my neck again, suckling the sensitive skin.

  “Rainey, is everything okay?” Brittney entered the kitchen and stopped short at the sight of us. My eyes flew to hers and she covered her mouth. “Sorry,” she mumbled and fled the room. I heard the distinct click of her bedroom door down the hall and then I lost it.

  I laughed so whole-heartedly that I hardly noticed Baker’s horrified expression. He pulled completely out of me, ripped off the condom, and tossed it in the trash behind him.

  “Tell me I’m not standing here in your aunt’s house with my dick out,” he grit out. He gently tucked himself back into his pants while I let out all my pent-up laughter. He tried to look at me seriously but eventually broke out in a grin.

  “I blame you for this,” he accused.

  “Me? I was just itching for some coffee when you attacked me with your hot body and devilish smile,” I defended.

  His lips parted at my words, his pupils dilated. He had an incredibly hungry, sexy look on his face. I was almost drawn in again as he moved toward me.

  “No!” I playfully slapped him away. “I am horrified that Britt just found us like that.” I jumped down from the counter, grabbing my shirt and slipping it on. “I have to go get dressed. Try to keep it in your pants, okay?”

  “Hurry back, or I might attack your aunt with this thing.” He wiggled, thrusting his crotch out at me. “It’s got a mind of its own!”

  I made my way up the stairs with a chuckle, unable to get the picture of Baker waving himself in front of me. Regardless of how much I might have believed he and I should stay away from each other, I was glad he came. I hurried into my room once I cleared the stairs. Even though I knew he would never make a move on my aunt, I didn’t want to leave the two of them together alone for too long.

  Twelve

  Baker

  I shook my head in disbelief over my own behavior. I was there to reprimand her, to demand to know why she left and to make her feel guilty. Instead, I tried to jump her at first sight. It was as if not seeing her for three days ruined me. I wanted nothing more than to be with her as much as I could for the rest of our lives. Granted, I knew hers wouldn’t be much longer, but I still wanted every moment, every smile.

  “Are you decent?” came a voice from the hallway.

  I stifled a laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good,” she said as she came around the corner into the kitchen. “Let’s have a chat, shall we?” She sat at the dining room table and I meekly followed.

  “I know we met earlier, but maybe I wasn’t clear before. Rainey is not to be hassled or attacked, even if she wants it. I won’t have my niece put under undue stress,” Brittney addressed me.

  She was only a few years older than me, but she scolded me like a child. When I showed up at seven that morning, I had explained who I was and she welcomed me into her home. She let me know that Rainey was still asleep and that I could hang out until she woke up. Then Brittney went into her room and left me alone.

  I had wandered the living room, smiling at the number of pictures of Rainey and Brittney together. They always looked happy together, which was nice to see. I knew Rainey’s mom was hardly a good role model. Maybe being in LA had been best for her.

  When I heard Rainey’s door open, I hid in the living room and waited for her to turn her back. Then I jumped up on the counter and waited for her to notice me. It had been fun. I never suspected it would escalate so quickly, though.

  “Do you understand me?” Brittney asked when I didn’t answer her fast enough.

  “Yes, ma’am. I apologize for what you walked in on, and I take full responsibility for it,” I told her.

  “Don’t be so dramatic, Baker,” Rainey said from the stairs as she walked down. “We’re both adults and we don’t need to apologize for anything.” She glared at her aunt.

  I had to bite my tongue in order not to laugh, but then I noticed what Rainey wore. If I thought she was adorable in an oversized tee, she was absolutely stunning in a pair of short jean shorts and a tiny pink tank top. Her long legs were bare, but tan. Long, dangly earrings hung from her ears and she’d even put on some lip gloss. I tried not smile.

  “Don’t talk to your aunt that way, Rain,” I admonished her. “She’s just looking out for you.”

  “Exactly. Thank you, Christopher.” Brittney smiled at me. I winced at her use of my full name. No one ever called me Chris anymore, let alone Christopher. I let it slide, though.

  We both turned to Rainey, who had picked up her forgotten coffee cup. “Okay, I’m sorry! Geez, you act like you never did anything when you were young.” Rainey rolled her eyes.

  Brittney shook her head. “I did. But now, I have to get to work. Try not to get her pregnant, okay?” She looked at me and I went into a coughing fit to hide my laughter. The woman was a force to be reckoned with. I now knew where Rainey got it from.

  She stood, blew Rainey a kiss, and was out the door before I could say goodbye. Once I heard her car pull out of the driveway, I turned to Rainey, who stood against the counter looking sexy and edible.

  “Don’
t even think about it,” she warned when I moved to get up. “You stay away from me until you explain what the hell you’re doing here.”

  I sighed. “I came to see you. I wanted to ask you why you left.”

  “You ever hear of this new invention called the telephone? Apparently, you can talk to people thousands of miles away without jumping on a plane to see them in person.” She glared at me.

  “Oh, right, because you answered every single one of my texts,” I ground out through clenched teeth.

  She had the decency to flinch at my words. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Do you want some coffee?”

  I nodded. She brought me a cup and sat in the chair her aunt had been sitting in. “I’m sorry, Baker. I know I should have told you, should have said goodbye, but I just couldn’t do it,” she rushed out.

  “Why did you leave?”

  “I don’t know.” She abandoned her coffee and stood up, waving her hands around while she spoke. “I was afraid if you knew the truth, you’d leave me, so I left first. And then I got the news that I only have a few months left – it’s like a damn death sentence. Leukemia is hardly something I ever wanted to deal with, but the treatments were working! I was better. And then the bruises started again, along with fevers and night sweats… I was scared,” she finished, looking at her hands, standing in the middle of the kitchen.

  I had to turn around to follow her movements with my eyes. She paced while she talked and when she finally stopped, I stood.

  “It’s okay to be scared,” I said, walking over to her in the middle of the kitchen. “Hell, it’s not even happening to me and I’m scared.”

  “Really?” She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes.

  “Of course. It’s not every day I fall in love with a woman who’s dying,” I joked half-heartedly, taking her hands in mine.

  “You’re really in love with me? I mean, you said so back in your apartment, but I kind of thought it was just the heat of the moment.”

  “I said it before? I don’t even remember that. But I will remember this. I love you, Lorraine Daniels.”

  She gulped. “You shouldn’t love me, Baker. I’m no good for you.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re the only woman who can stand my quirky sense of humor.” I smiled at her, trying to hide my disappointment that she didn’t say it back. She wasn’t ready, and I promised myself I would be patient.

  “I’m going to die.” Her voice broke, and along with it, my heart. “If you love me now, you’ll just be heartbroken later, and you’ll be alone.”

  “I’ve been alone before, Rainey. While you were in LA, I spent several years trying to find happiness, using women like playthings to fill a void in my soul. But it was you – you are the only one who can fill that void. When you came back, I knew right away that you were it for me. And knowing that you have a shelf life,” I paused, waiting for her smile, “well, that just means that I’m not going to let you go again. Not if I can help it. If I had the choice of a hundred healthy years to live or twelve short weeks with you, I’d choose you, every single time.”

  I leaned forward and kissed her sweetly. Tears escaped her eyes and I wiped them away with the pad of my thumb. She smiled sadly at me again.

  “When did you get so sweet?”

  “I’ve always been sweet. You just never noticed me. In fact, you pushed me away then, just like you’re doing now. But let’s get one thing straight.” I leaned down to look her in the eye. “I. Am. Not. Going. Anywhere.” I gave her a quick peck and then went back to the table, picking up my coffee and heading into the living room to look at photographs again.

  She didn’t move for almost a full minute as my words settled over her. I tried not to grin as I eyed all the photos again. When she finally moved, she came into the living to look at pictures with me.

  “This one was taken at the airport, right after I moved here.” She pointed to a frame that sat on a shelf about shoulder height.

  I took in the photo, memorizing every detail. This was the Rainey I remembered. She was tall, with shorter blonde hair and those same fiery green eyes. The only thing different was her size. In the photo, her hips were fuller, rounder, but still delectable. Even her breasts were plumper, filling the tattered T-shirt she wore more fully. She looked like a kid, and in many ways, she was. I turned to look at her next to me.

  She had changed over the years – her slimmer waist, longer hair, even the way she dressed was more refined, older. But she was still there, the Rainey I loved. The girl who laughed at my stupid jokes and shook her head at me when I was being an idiot. Just Rainey.

  I was lucky to have her in my life, and although I regretted not having her in my life for the last few years, I wanted to make up for lost time in the next few months. I wanted to be by her side when she breathed her last, knowing that we had made the most out of our time together.

  “So what do you want to do today?” I asked her.

  She glanced at me, her surprise evident in her raised brow.

  “How long are you staying?” She asked.

  “For however long you are,” I informed her.

  “What? You can’t stay here.” She stepped away from me.

  “I can pretty much do what I want. Free country, and all that. But I am staying here because I love you and I’m not about to let one moment pass without spending it with you,” I explained.

  “But… What about when I die?” She looked down at her hands.

  I put my finger under her chin to get her to look at me. “Then a little piece of me will die, too. Until then, I want to enjoy being with you.”

  I saw the fear creep into her eyes and knew I scared her, but I needed her to know I wasn’t about to walk away.

  And then something else appeared in her bright eyes. Something akin to mischief.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Well, on the plane ride here, I made up a bucket list…”

  “Hell yes. Whatever’s on it, we’ll do,” I promised.

  “I sort of threw it away.” She looked sheepish.

  “We’ll write a new one, then. No big deal. What’s the first thing that comes to mind to do?” I asked her, ready for anything she could think of.

  “How about Vegas?”

  I wasn’t ready for that.

  Thirteen

  Rainey

  Vegas wasn’t actually on my original to-do list. It had been on my mind, though. Living out west as I had for several years, I always wanted to do something reckless and frivolous. But the leukemia had made me more reserved, less likely to do something just for the sake of doing it. I always told myself that someday I would get to Vegas, do all the things I wanted to do.

  Someday was now. With only a few months to enjoy my life, if I wanted to do something, I needed to do it right away. Once I got to a certain point, I would have to be hospitalized, or at least have a home nurse. Until then, I wanted to get as much out of this life as I could. And that meant letting Baker in and taking a chance.

  “Vegas?”

  “Yeah. I always wanted to go, but money has always been tight for me, paying for treatments and whatnot. So I want to go, you know, before I go,” I grinned.

  “Well then, hell yeah! Let’s go.” He pulled me into a hug and lifted me up, swinging me around the living room. I laughed with him, unable to do anything to stop my growing feelings for him. He was perfect for me, exactly what I needed at this point in my life.

  “I have to pack,” I told him and he put me down.

  “My bags are already in the rental car. I’ll just watch you pack,” he suggested, taking my hand and leading my up the stairs.

  He pushed open my bedroom door and flung himself sideways on my bed. He picked up a magazine I left on my nightstand and flipped through it, hardly paying me any attention. I stood there, staring at him like a fool for several minutes.

  “What are you doing?” He finally looked up at me. “Get packing!” He cracked an invisible whip at me and made
a whippish sound. Then he turned back to the article he was reading. A man who read magazine articles. Insane.

  I turned away from him and pulled my duffel out of the closet. I packed jeans, shorts, tanks, and tees. I threw in a few pairs of socks, and then eyed Baker nervously before pulling open the drawer where I kept all my lingerie. Many of the items inside were see-through, lacy pieces that revealed more than they covered, but something told me Baker would appreciate them.

  His attention was focused solely on the magazine so I stuffed several teddies into my bag, along with the matching panties. He would definitely appreciate my effort. I pulled out a pair of jeans and laid them on top of the delicates, just in case he decided to look up. I went into the guest bathroom and grabbed my straightener, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I set everything on the end of the bed and then picked up my travel makeup bag out of the closet. I placed all my hair stuff into it, running back to the bathroom for bobby pins, my hair brush, and anti-frizz serum. Once I had everything set, I moved on to shoes.

  When I left LA for Maine last month, I left most of my designer shoes with Brittney, since there weren’t many places to wear four-inch heels in Maine. Vegas, however, was a different story. I could easily get away with heels there; plus, Baker was way taller than me, so I wouldn’t tower over him. It was win-win. I picked four pairs, figuring that any more wouldn’t be necessary and any less would cause me serious problems when dressing myself while we were there. I carefully placed them in the duffel bag, making sure the heels wouldn’t snag any of the teddies.

  Baker turned to me as I zipped up the duffel. “Ready?”

  “Almost. I just have to go through a few more things,” I told him.

  “Okay, well I’m going to go make the reservation. Come downstairs when you’re ready.” He tossed the magazine back on my night stand and got up. He planted a quick kiss against my lips and then waltzed out of my room without a glance back at me.