The Alcove (Lavender Shores Book 7)

by Rosalind Abel

  I started to protest, this was too much. Too soon. Fucking…. We shouldn’t. Couldn’t. Something.

  But then he was smearing the lube over me, and even through the thin sheath of the condom, his touch caused all thought to cease.

  Just as he released me, giving me a chance to come to my senses, he took it away again by lifting his leg and placing one of his knees on the outside of my thigh, and then doing the same with his other so he was straddling my lap. He dipped his lubed hand between his legs and sucked in a breath as he touched himself.

  It couldn’t be real. It absolutely could not be real. Not like this. Not someone so beautiful. Not before…. We couldn’t fuck. Not like this. Not before we’d done…. Before I’d done… so many, many things.

  But with each move, he captivated me. The muscles of his chest and shoulders flexing as he readied himself. The fire blazing in his blue eyes. The teasing smile that transformed his lips to the offering of delicious sin.

  He shifted, grabbing my cock and aligning it to his entrance. As he did, his shaft rubbed against my stomach, and I looked down. Securing his balance by gripping my shoulder with his free hand, he arched back slightly, just enough to tilt forward, allowing me to watch as my cock slowly slid into him.

  He sucked in a sharp breath as I breached his entrance.

  I did as well. At the tightness of him, at the almost painful, slick heat.

  At the sight of his straining erection, precome spilling out and traveling over its smooth planes to reach his balls. And below that, I was sinking deeper and deeper into him.

  He released my cock and secured his hand on my other shoulder as he slowly, achingly, lowered himself onto me. One of his hands traveled up my neck and his thumb hooked under my jaw guiding it up.

  I resisted for a moment, not wanting to tear my gaze away from the most astounding sight I’d ever seen. The most terrifying sight I’d ever seen, and then my eyes met his.

  They were so blue. So clear. And though they were just like they had been before, though they nearly glowed with lust, there was something else. A release of some kind, almost… a gratitude.

  His other hand matched on the other side of my jaw, cupping my face, and then he lowered his lips to mine as he sank the rest of the way, taking the entirety of my shaft inside of him.

  His red hair fell around our faces, sheltering us. Our eyes continued to hold for a heartbeat or two as we kissed, as I felt him tighten around my cock. Then his tongue slipped inside and our eyes closed as one.

  I gripped his hips, and then caressed over his ass and up his back.

  He rocked, moving so I slid partially out of him, and then he arched forward, taking me deep again. He groaned into my mouth, and I wrapped my arms around his body and crushed him to me.

  The world exploded. Or maybe it simply opened.

  This moment, the one that marked the lowest depths I could sink where there was nothing left to lose, blossomed into a realization that life was just beginning. Finally.

  Our kiss never broke as he built a rhythm, slow and passionate as our tongues caressed and hands explored, but within moments became frenzied and punishing, the sound of our bodies slapping together filling the space as he rode me.

  Still kissing me, his breathing became ragged, panting.

  His body’s grip around my cock tightened, squeezing over and over, milking me to the point that I knew I wasn’t going to last despite never wanting it to end.

  With a final cry into my mouth, his entire body shuddered, and I felt the heat of him spurt over my chest and shoulders as he came.

  His orgasm squeezed my cock so tightly that it hurt, and then I came as well. Emptying into him as my thrusts slowed and his kiss softened.

  My body was trembling, shuddering, as he pulled back. Another beautiful smile, this one satisfied and happy. Then he kissed me again. Softly, sweetly.

  It was another sort of ecstasy as he rose in a kneeling position, lifting himself free from my body. With another grin, he swung one leg around and stood. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I needed….” Though he started smoothly, emotion seemed to overwhelm him. “How much I needed to feel….” He cleared his throat and looked away.

  With the explosion of the orgasm fading and the absence of his eyes, fireworks began to go off in my brain. Some of them bright and beautiful, others dark and threatening.

  He placed his hand on my chest once more and leaned in for another kiss. This one sweet and quick, like the last one. He chuckled softly. “I didn’t even realize. I can’t believe it. I didn’t even ask your name.”

  No. I was wrong. All the fireworks were dark and threatening. Every single one.

  My name. He wanted my name.

  For one more heartbeat, I was frozen, and then with another burst of those dark fireworks, I rocketed to a standing position.

  “Sorry.” I started to reach for him, like he would be able to save me, then pulled back, looking around the sauna. For answers or an escape, I wasn’t sure.

  I settled for the escape.

  “Sorry.” With a fleeting look back, I stepped over our towels on the floor and practically ran through the sauna.

  I was back in my little room before I realized I hadn’t even removed the condom.

  I locked the door and took a curled-up refuge in the corner of the bed and the wall.

  One

  Jasper

  May

  or

  Seven Years Later

  “Do the introductions and then leave.” I dried the last dish from our breakfast and put it in the cupboard before turning back to my brother. “Seriously, Harrison. You two are heading out of town this afternoon, you need to get ready. It’s your first anniversary. Don’t pretend you don’t have a huge to-do list that’s eating at you right now.”

  Harrison finished topping off our coffee and handed me my mug. “Adrian and Micah are getting back from their conference around three. I have plenty of time.” He took a sip, sighed, and leaned back against the counter. “The real problem is how late we stayed up last night watching movies. Maybe I can squeeze a nap in later so I’m fresh for….” A blush rose to his cheeks, and he took another sip.

  Gagging, I did my brotherly duty by shuddering in disgust. “You’ve released two sex tapes into the world. I don’t think I’m going to be irrevocably scarred by knowing that my older brother is planning on having sex with his husband on their anniversary. The fancy San Francisco hotel kind of implied that anyway.”

  “I didn’t release sex tapes to the world. That was someone else’s doing, if you recall.” He swatted at me as he laughed. He only managed to nick my elbow as I twisted out of the way, spilling a small wave of coffee over the floor.

  “You’re cleaning that up.” I pointed down, joining in on his laughter. “With you not living here since you got together with Adrian, I’d forgotten what a messy house guest you are. Three days with Harrison Getty has left the place looking like a tornado has gone through, which I thought we left behind when we fled Tennessee.”

  “Shut up!” That time he managed to swat my shoulder and spilled another splash of coffee. “Just because I’m not anal-retentive like you doesn’t mean I’m a slob.” He grimaced and then pointed down at his knee. “However, I think you’ll have to take care of the coffee. War wound, remember?”

  “Elevating from football star to war hero, huh?” I grabbed a paper towel from the rack.

  “You’re the one who said hero. Not me.” He grinned as his gaze softened. “It was nice to spend the last three days with you. Like old times.”

  It had been. There was no one in the world I loved more than my brother, and it had been too long since we’d had such extended time alone. Still, I was looking forward to ending the day curled up by the window reading a book.

  No sooner had the thought passed than I remembered why Harrison had demanded the extended brother weekend. It wasn’t just because his husband and business partner had a conference.

  Be
fore I could reply, Harrison hopped onto my wavelength as a familiar strain entered his eyes, an expression that had been like a third houseguest over the past three days. “I don’t have to leave. Adrian would understand.”

  “Shut up You’re not spending the night of your first anniversary with your brother.” I shook my finger at him, partly in jest but also serious. “And if you don’t quit stressing, you’re going to get wrinkles around your eyes. Then what would happen if you decided to return to modeling?”

  Harrison didn’t take the bait. “This is your life we’re talking about, Jasper. I can’t imagine anything more serious.”

  I waved him off. “You’re being dramatic. I’ve told you a billion times. Neal wouldn’t hurt me. Not really.” Despite my protests, my anxiety grew. No, not anxiety, as much as I wanted to pretend that was it. Fear. My fear grew.

  Harrison’s brown gaze leveled on mine. He knew me better than anyone. He didn’t have to say a thing. He knew, even if I couldn’t admit it. “I’ll stay. We can make a night of it, the three of us.” Those concerned eyes brightened as if the plan actually sounded good to him. “We’ll make a party out of it. Invite Micah and Connor over. Andre. Hell, we can make an impromptu bash and invite all the founding families of Lavender Shores.”

  “Just because you married into a founding family, doesn’t make me a member.” I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t quit attempting jokes.

  He snorted. “Oh, I’m aware. Trust me.”

  I could tell he was about to launch into another plan, but I cut him off. “Enough of this. You’re not staying. There’s no reason to. You and Adrian are going to San Francisco to celebrate, and you’re not going to think of me. Not once.” I lifted my finger again as he started to protest. “I’m serious, Harrison. There’s been no contact in the last three days. There’s no reason to think there’ll be any more.”

  “We both know that’s not true.”

  Yes. We did. “Well… whatever. You’re still not staying. You’re forcing me to have a bodyguard. And the only reason I agreed to it is so you wouldn’t cause yourself an aneurysm. You don’t get to be on both sides of that fence. I said yes to your request—which was pretty much a demand, by the way—so you have to quit worrying.”

  He smiled gently, but I could see him beginning to cave. “I’m your big brother. That’s what I do.”

  “I know it. And I appreciate it.” I truly did. It meant the world, even if a little overbearing at times. “And my older brother got me a bodyguard, so let it go.” I moved closer and nudged his shoulder with mine. Actually I nudged the lower half of his triceps with my shoulder. Harrison and I had physiques true to what we were. Harrison, an ex-star-quarterback, model, reality TV star. And me, a diehard bookworm turned bookshop owner. We couldn’t look less like brothers if we tried. “A bodyguard, Harrison. You got me a bodyguard, like I’m Whitney Houston or something.”

  He snorted again. “Well, however this thing goes, if you decide you need to burst into singing ‘I Will Always Love You,’ make damn sure you don’t do it until I’m back so I can videotape it. Then I won’t be the only one of us who’s trended on YouTube.”

  “I don’t think me screeching will compete with your sex tapes. Even if I did it naked.”

  “Well….” He seemed to consider. “Russell is pretty sexy. I haven’t seen him in a few years, but he’s definitely hot. So just get him naked before you sing.”

  “Great. Just what I need.” Not only was I going to have a stranger staying in my guest room for the foreseeable future, but someone to spark all my insecurities on a continuous basis.

  Harrison waggled his eyebrows. “Did I mention he’s gay?”

  “No. No, you most definitely did not.” I turned to face him slowly. “What is this? Protection from Neal or trying to set me up?”

  “Protection. Russell helped out one of my teammates a few years back. A situation like this. His girlfriend had some crazed stalker. Russell saved her life. I wouldn’t get someone who I didn’t trust to be with you. He’s a good guy. Capable.” Harrison gave a little shrug. “Maybe a little serious from what I remember. But he’s good.” His expression relaxed once more, and the teasing gleam returned to his eyes. “But… if quality protection turns into romance….” Another shrug. “C’est la vie.”

  It was a testament to just how much genuine fear I felt that I didn’t nix the plan instantly. “You know, Harrison. It might be a good idea for you to get a bodyguard for yourself. I’m a little tempted to take a hit out on you right now.”

  Harrison grinned, but before he could say anything, a chime sounded, announcing someone was at the door. He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Five minutes early. That’s what I remember about Russell.” Another flash of a grin. “Showtime.”

  “I hate you.”

  Chuckling, he took the coffee from my hand and placed both our mugs on the counter. We left the apartment, walked down the narrow steps in the back, and entered my bookshop.

  Lavender Pages was small—narrow and deep. As we made our way through, I studied the silhouette highlighted by the morning sun at the front door window. He looked like a bodyguard. Nearly as big as Harrison.

  Just from his outline, a sense of relief flooded through me, confirming that despite what I’d said to Harrison, I really was concerned. Neal hadn’t hurt me before, not really, but he was quite a bit stronger than me. But unless his years behind bars changed him drastically, he couldn’t compare to Harrison or the man waiting at the door.

  Harrison didn’t wait but unlatched the lock and threw open the door. “Russell Wallace! Good to see you. It’s been too long.”

  The man took Harrison’s outstretched hand, gave it a firm shake, and then they did the overly masculine “chest bump, fist pound on the back” thing.

  Harrison and I couldn’t seem less like brothers if we tried.

  Once done, the bodyguard entered the bookshop, and Harrison shut the door and locked it again.

  Then Russell offered his hand to me. I took it, expecting a similar display.

  To my relief, he simply shook my hand. His grip was firm and warm. Calluses rough against my palm. “Hey. I’m Russell. Nice to meet you.” His voice matched the rest of him—low and strong. There was a hint of warmth there too, but enough steel that it was only a hint.

  “You too. I’m Jasper.” I looked up at his face but couldn’t see into his eyes. He had on a low-hung ball cap and dark sunglasses. Even so, Harrison’s memory was proven true. Russell practically smoldered.

  If I’d been told I was going to meet a bodyguard who was clothed in a leather jacket, ball cap, and wore sunglasses inside during the early morning, I’d have predicted I would’ve laughed at the cliché of it all. Probably would’ve accused the man of trying just a bit too hard. I’d have kept that witticism in my mind, of course, lest I got slaughtered, but still.

  Laughter was the furthest thing from my mind as I met Russell Wallace.

  I had yet to encounter a genre of books I didn’t enjoy. One of my indulgences, when I wanted to dive into the world of romantic fantasy, was a series of vampire warriors. The man in front of me might’ve stepped out of the pages and been one of the members of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood.

  Where my brother had the rippling muscle mass of a football star, Harrison was about as much of a fighter as a golden retriever. I felt safe with him because he was my brother. With this man… I felt a strange combination of safety and fear. Though I’d just met him, there was no doubt that Russell Wallace was no golden retriever. He was a pit bull, German shepherd, and junkyard dog all rolled into one. He’d keep me safe. But just like those vampires, I got the sense he could devour me too.

  And I’d let him.

  I managed to swallow when I became aware my body was responding to him in ways that most definitely weren’t anticipated. I also realized my hand was still in his, mainly because I was gripping it so tightly he couldn’t end the formality without jerking away. “Uhm, sorry.” I
retrieved my hand and shoved it into my pocket.

  From over Russell’s shoulder, Harrison studied me, the surprise in his eyes shifting to amusement. No doubt I wouldn’t be hearing the end of this for a long, long time.

  Turning away, I headed toward the counter where the register was, my little spot of power and control. And I could stand behind it just in case my body refused to listen to my demands and needed to be concealed behind something. From behind, I heard Russell and Harrison follow.

  I hadn’t turned on the piped-in background music yet, and their steps and the soft squeak of Russell’s leather filled the space.

  “Cute little bookshop you’ve got here.”

  Already feeling a little more secure behind the counter, I faced him, trying to determine if there was judgment in his tone.

  Russell wasn’t looking at me. Instead, he was turning to inspect Lavender Pages. “Like it’s out of a storybook.”

  Harrison chuckled and gently smacked Russell’s shoulder again. “Welcome to Lavender Shores. You’re going to be saying that a lot.”

  He didn’t respond, only continued to circle slowly.

  From my concealed spot, I was okay with that and took advantage of studying Russell. He wore brown boots and dark-wash jeans. They weren’t skintight, but with every move he made, his jeans revealed thickly muscled calves and thighs and an ass that threatened to make me light-headed. As Russell continued to inspect, he slid off his sunglasses. He’d clearly been handsome before, but the shades hadn’t done him any favors besides adding to his mystique. His profile was strong, every plane of him chiseled. A close-cropped, dark beard framed his sharp jaw.

  When he turned to me, I realized he was older than I’d thought. Probably mid-forties. Somehow, that made him even more handsome.

  His brown eyes met my gaze. “Do you only have two entrances to the shop?” He motioned the length of the store. “This one in the front, and I’m assuming there’s one in the back?” He peered over my shoulder.