Her Champions: A high school bully romance (Bad Boys of Jameson High Book 3)
Page 22
He nodded the slightest bit and bent his head, his lips moving to connect with mine in a dance I couldn’t define and didn’t want to avoid. I raised my chin, meeting him halfway and with equal intensity. We angled our heads opposite directions, instinctually knowing what moves to make as our bodies yearned to be closer.
Stryker’s hands roved down the sides of my waist, my hips, and then up my back, caressing me as he pulled me closer. I sank against his warmth, the heat of his body like home to me, already familiar and welcome.
Without too much thought, I tore my sports bra off over my head. My shorts shimmied down my thighs and fell to the floor and I stepped from the leg holes, unashamed of my nakedness.
Stryker didn’t hesitate as he copied me, leaving his clothes piled along mine. “Come on.” He bent at the waist, dipping his legs as he scooped me into his arms and carried me to the shower. I rested my fingertips along his collarbone and realized how badly I probably needed a shower. I’d fought all five rounds and then gone through a horrendous ordeal where I’d had to kill a man, then lost my mom.
I giggled in embarrassment as he set me down by the shower and turned on water. “I probably stink.”
Stryker gently grabbed me by the waist and steered me into the shower stall. He scanned my body, pausing at spots that left a heated aware flush in the wake of his gaze. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t think you stink at all.” He arched an eyebrow at me, his sideways grin heightening my awareness to an almost feverish pitch. “We can really work up a sweat, if you want.”
Even through my sadness I was able to grin. Somehow, Stryker understood that I needed teasing, that I needed a challenge and he was more than willing to be all of that for me.
His grin slid from his lips and his eyes took on a slumberous shadow. I swallowed, my chest keenly aware of every glance he made toward my breasts as I breathed in and out.
Did he see me as a killer? Or did he see someone who was weak and not worthy of his attention? Because that’s how I felt. I’d brought so much drama into his life just being a member of my family. He’d been subjected to a helluva lot more than he might have been were it not for my aunt, mother, and father.
True, his uncle had turned out to be a king douche, but was that enough to spin a world upside down?
He slowly stalked me, a hunger in his eyes that had me backing up into the shower, under the hot spray. Water bounced off my shoulder, misting my chin and cheek and running down the valleys and peaks of my body.
Stryker pushed me back until my shoulder blades hit the cool shower stall rear wall. I inhaled as the heat of the water was challenged by the heat coming off Stryker’s body. He braced his right arm above my head and to the side, staring down at me and holding only a few inches between us.
Tracing my cheek with his forefinger with a touch I loved, he watched his finger’s path with his gaze, licking his lip as he did so. “You scared me, Gray. I thought you were going to trade yourself to Dominick for your dad.” He slowly moved his hand into place and gripped the back of my neck with his fingers while his thumb found a spot to rest at the line of my jaw. His voice grew huskier as he tilted my head back and nipped at my lip before speaking. “You can’t do that to me again. If I lost you…” He shook his head. “It’s not an option, got it?”
A weight in my stomach agreed with him, but I couldn’t vocalize it. I couldn’t tell him all the things bubbling up inside me. I slid my hands up the naked skin of his sides until I could rest my fingers on the hard muscles of his chest. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” I wasn’t teasing. I wasn’t joking. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t worry him like that again. I couldn’t. Hurting him felt like hurting myself.
The water ran over us, competing with the heat rolling between our bodies.
My words didn’t seem to assuage him. Worry held his features in a stoic mask and I shook my head. Reaching up, I wrapped my fingers around the back of his strong neck. I whispered, pulling his face down to mine. “I mean it, Stryker. No more. I won’t do that to you again. Now, make me forget today. Make me forget what I lost.” I pressed my forehead to his and stared up into his eyes. “Please. Make me forget.”
He inhaled sharply, reaching his free hand around my waist and pulling me close, every inch of us touching that we could possibly connect.
Our lips met and danced and there was nothing I could do to stop my worries of the day from disappearing. He hiked my legs up around his waist and he filled me up over and over and over before finally leaving me quivering without any question of who I belonged with and more about what I’d gained than what I’d lost.
I’d survived and being loved by Stryker left no doubt about it.
Epilogue
Gray
Moving in with the Jameson cousins was an easy move to make. Sara decided to follow suit and while I slept in Stryker’s room, she seemed to find a roommate in Brock. There was no shame or embarrassment as we passed each other in the hallway or sat at the table to eat a meal. We all just clicked and it felt natural.
Mom died with the rest of them. The van was found on the train tracks, pulverized by a speeding BNSF engine with about forty cars behind it. The news brushed everything under the rug and blamed it on a drug bust gone wrong.
We all kept our mouths shut.
The Jameson cousins slid into their roles of leading the community even as they finished up their senior year. I couldn’t be sure, but I had a feeling all three of them longed to follow their father’s footsteps into the military, but it wasn’t something we were ready to talk about just yet.
As it was, Stryker and I just wanted to take advantage of our time together as much as possible. I wasn’t sick of the sex. In fact, I was starting to feel insatiable. The heat between Stryker and me didn’t dissipate and I hoped it never did.
As far as I was concerned, we’d had enough excitement to last us three lifetimes. I’d be happy just laying in bed with him for the rest of my life. I didn’t need to travel or do anything that other kids our age wanted to do.
All I wanted to do was be with Stryker and work on earning the sacrifice my mom had made for me. For us.
I’d never fight again. Some things just would never be the same.
Stryker rolled over on the bed beside me. The soft morning light highlighting his long dark lashes as they brushed the tops of his cheeks while he slept. I didn’t look away as I stared at him. He’d fought me and then he’d fought for me.
Not everyone was that loved. I’d scored myself the bad boy of Jameson High. Nothing was going to take him away from me.
I know I said I’d never fight again, but for him? For Stryker I’d do whatever it took, whatever he needed.
Even if it meant getting back in the ring.
Even if it meant surviving for him.
I could do that. I couldn’t wait to experience life with him. I think we’d earned it.
***
Gray and Stryker are a kickass couple! I just loved creating this world. If you get a chance, please leave a review! I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Want some more angst and heart-breaking choices? Check out the O’Donnell twins as they rule opposite sides of a town and fight over the one girl who loves them both. She only gets one. In The Rivalry High Series bully romance gets a whole new twist.
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Thank you so much for joining me with the Jameson cousins. I love them so much! Stryker… sigh.
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The End
Her Champions
Chapter 1
Gray
Chapter 2
Gray
Chapter 3
Gray
Chapter 4
Stryker
Chapter 5
Gray
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Chapter 6
Stryker
***
***
Gray
Chapter 7
Gray
***
Stryker
Chapter 8
Gray
Chapter 9
Gray
***
Stryker
Chapter 10
Gray
Chapter 11
Gray
Chapter 12
Stryker
Chapter 13
Gray
Chapter 14
Gray
Chapter 15
Gray
Chapter 16
Stryker
Chapter 17
Gray
Chapter 18
Stryker
Chapter 19
Gray
Chapter 20
Gray
Chapter 21
Gray
Chapter 22
Stryker
Chapter 23
Gray
Chapter 24
Gray
Epilogue
Gray
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Copyright © 2019 Bonnie R. Paulson/Captiva Publishing, LLC
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