Lucia Jordan's Four Series Collection: Chosen, Whipped, Lick, Risk

by Lucia Jordan

  She glanced over to Trevor and her heart seized. He’d been so good about the issue with Robert. He’d truly stuck it out beside her, but there was still one secret she had that she’d never shared with anyone but her parents. It was a deep dark secret that she was ashamed of. It was the only thing keeping her from being truly happy.

  She would tell Trevor about it when the time was right. She just had no idea when that time would be. Trevor stirred beside her and looked up with sleepy eyes and a smile.

  “Hey you,” he said, as he yawned and stretched.

  “Hey,” she said.

  His smile faded and he sat up. “What’s wrong?”

  “Before we go to your mom’s do you think we can take a quick detour?”

  “Sure,” he said with a puzzled look.”

  “There’s just something I need to tell you, but in order to do that I need to go somewhere, but I don’t know if I can go there by myself.”

  “Okay? Where are we going?”

  “Home,” she said softly.

  “Your mom and ads?”

  She shook her head. “No. The home I had with Robert. There are some things there I need to gather.”

  He picked her hand up and brushed his lips against the back of her knuckles. “Anything you want.”

  How in the world had she gotten so lucky?

  ***

  When the plane landed it was close to ten. The trip to her old home was actually only a twenty-minute drive from the airstrip. Trevor’s brother had left his pickup at the airport for him to drive. He had to admit, it felt good to be home.

  “Here,” she said pointing to a weed choked driveway with a no trespassing sign dangling off the broken fence.

  Slowly they crept forward until they came to a stop before a rundown shack.

  “Charming,” he said.

  “It was all we could afford,” she said with a shrug.

  Lacey hopped out of the truck and made her way up the chipped and cracked concrete sidewalk. The stairs creaked under each of her steps and, as she reached for the door, her hands were shaking violently. Demons of the past greeted her in the entrance as she pushed the door open. Before entering, she reached to her right and flipped a switch. Muddy yellow light filled the room.

  Taking a deep breath, Lacey walked in the house, which had gone downhill drastically since she’d been there. Apparently Robert had neglected to take care of it. Trash littered the floor along with empty beer bottles and plates of half eaten food covered with mold. Roaches skittered up the walls and mice scampered into the corners.

  She shivered in repulsion.

  “It wasn’t always like this,” she said, as if apologizing for the mess.

  “Don’t be embarrassed,” Trevor said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Let’s just get what you need and be done with this.”

  She nodded and made her way across the disgusting floor and into the bedroom. The musty smell of unwashed bodies and urine slammed into her. She quickly saw used condoms littering the floor and bile rose to the back of her throat.

  Fighting the urge to retch, she made her way to the closet and pulled on the string attached to the light. She then pressed against the back of the wall and removed a panel. Without thinking of what kind of furry creature could be lurking in the shadows, she reached in and withdrew a tiny box.

  Without hesitation, she ran from the room and sat on the front porch. The air was muggy, then again, it was July second. When Trevor walked from the house, Lacey was sitting with the box resting on her knees. He settled himself beside her.

  “What’s that?” he asked as he nudged her with his leg.

  She took a shaky breath and removed the lid. Reaching into the box she pulled out a square picture. An ultrasound. “I made a lot of stupid mistakes when I was with Robert. I thought he was the greatest thing ever when I was in high school. My senior year, he got me pregnant. I was excited, but he was convinced that the child wasn’t his.” Tears leaked down her cheeks as she looked up at Trevor. “I loved him so much that I gave up the only thing that I had, that I knew would love me purely. In order to make Robert happy, I gave up my baby and any chances of having any children in the future.”

  Trevor was stunned. How on earth could a person choose an abusive man over the life of their unborn child? It was hard for him to wrap his head around.

  “You can’t have kids?” That was like another blow to the gut. He loved kids, and while he and Lacey weren’t anywhere near that far into their relationship, he’d hoped that, one day, he would have children.

  She shook her head. “The clinic that performed the procedure messed something up and damaged me somehow. It’s my punishment for going against everything I believed in. I’m broken Trevor. I will never be the woman you need me to be. I can never have your children.” Tears were falling and she was openly sobbing.

  “I think we need to get going. My parents are expecting us,” Trevor said. His voice was coarse with emotion as he climbed to his feet and walked back to his truck, leaving her to walk alone.

  They pulled onto the highway and sat in silence for a long while.

  “Say something,” she finally said.

  Trevor turned his head and, in the green glow of the dash lights, he just looked at her. “I can’t. I don’t want to talk to you right now. I think it’s just best that we not talk for a while.”

  And, just like that, the other foot dropped.

  Risk Book 4

  The hour drive to Trevor’s parents’ house seemed to have lasted ten hours. A tense silence filled the cab of the truck. Trevor stared ahead at the two lane highway. Lacey chanced glances his way but his features revealed nothing. Questions buzzed around in her head like an angry hive of hornets. Was he regretting asking her to go to Las Angeles? Would he send her packing after the weekend?

  She took a little comfort in the fact that he hadn’t turned the truck around and driven straight back to the airport. However, it probably would have been preferable to the silent treatment she was receiving.

  Trevor pulled the truck off the highway and onto a long gravel drive. They passed through a set of iron gates that boasted a ranch name. As they finally came to a stop in the drive, the only thing she could do was gape. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting, but the house in front of her was not it.

  Temporarily her discomfort and misery were forgotten as she stared at the huge two story sprawling ranch house. A deck wrapped around both sides, disappearing behind the house. Even in the semi-illumination of the floodlights she could tell it was massive. The downstairs windows were glowing invitingly. That meant people were awake and waiting their arrival. This was not going to be fun.

  Anxiously she scrubbed the tears away and rubbed beneath her eyes, trying to make sure what little makeup she’d applied that morning was not ringing her eyes like a raccoon’s mask. When she looked up three figures were standing in the light of the front porch. Trevor slipped from the car and she was about to do the same when he suddenly appeared, pulling her door open.

  He helped her from the truck and took her hand into his. She looked up at him for some sign in his features that everything was going to be okay. There was none. She clung to his hand, taking it as a gesture of hope.

  “They all waited up for us?” she whispered anxiously as he began to lead the way. Her sandals crunched over the gravel.

  “Yeah. I’d be willing to bet that Mom has been in the kitchen baking all day too,” he said fondly.

  “That’s nice,” she said, trying to recall the last time her mother had cooked anything.

  As soon as they approached the steps, a swarm of hugs and manly pats on the back descended on them.

  “Get out of my way and let me see my baby,” a woman said as she shooed the others away from Trevor. She pulled him into a tight embrace and, while he towered over her quite a bit, he bent and pressed his cheek to hers.

  “Hi Momma,” he said affectionately.

  Lacey stood awkwardly
while Trevor still held onto one of her hands.

  “Look at you. Do you not eat down there? You’re all skin and bones. After you introduce me to this beautiful young lady you’re gonna come on in here and eat. I made all your favorites,” she cooed.

  Trevor turned and looked at Lacey while arching a brow that said I told you so. “Momma, this is Lacey. She’s our team physical therapist. Lacey, this is Annabelle.”

  “But call me Annie,” the woman said as she took one look at Lacey and Trevor’s joined hands and beamed.

  “Pleased to meet you Annie,” Lacey said as she offered her hand.

  To her surprise, Annie’s hands were rough and calloused. It was apparent from her muscular frame that the older woman was no stranger to hard work. As Lacey looked at the woman she couldn’t help but feel like she’d seen her before. This made her feel a little more anxious than she’d like.

  “Do you hold all your co-workers’ hands or is this one special?”

  Lacey shook away her paranoia and met the warm smile of a man that looked to be in his late forties. She couldn’t see the shade of his eyes, but his hair was the same wavy blond as Trevor’s.

  “I’m Dane,” he said stepping forward. “I’m the oldest.”

  “And the biggest pain in my ass,” Trevor grumbled.

  Dane ignored his brother’s jab and turned his eyes back to Lacey and then to Trevor, still waiting for the answer. Lacey had to admit, she was anxious to hear what Trevor was going to say.

  “No, I don’t hold hands with my co-workers. This one is kind of special to me.”

  Lacey’s heart fluttered and then she knew everything was going to be okay.

  “So you’re the one that finally caught my baby brother’s heart,” a slender woman said, stepping forward.

  “This is Alicia, she’s the oldest of my sisters.”

  “Ali, and I’m the coolest sister.”

  “Did you tell Meg that?” Trevor returned playfully as he dropped Lacey’s hand and pulled his sister into a tight embrace. Then he turned to Lacey. “Megan is the third oldest.”

  Lacey nodded, wondering how in the hell she was going to keep everyone’s name straight.

  “Come on. Let’s get on in the house and grab a beer,” Annie said as she ushered everyone through the front door.

  Lacey stepped through the door and it was all she could do to keep her mouth from falling open. The house looked exactly like it was straight out of one of those country living magazines. Rustic barn wood décor lined the walls. Furniture that looked old, but really wasn’t, filled the living room. It was beautiful and homey and immediately Lacey never wanted to leave.

  As everyone made their way to the kitchen, Trevor pulled her to the side and lightly pushed her against the wall. Leaning close he gave her a soft kiss.

  “I’m still processing what happened tonight, but I want you to know something.”

  “Y—yes?” she stammered nervously.

  “We all have crosses to bear. We all have secrets that hold us back. You took a risk telling me what you did. You showed me that you trusted me, and even though you weren’t sure how I was going to react, you did it anyway. I can’t tell you exactly how I am feeling right now because it’s a lot to take in. But I want you to listen very closely…”

  His voice dipped into a low gravely tone. It was the tone he used when he was telling her what to do while they were having sex. Slowly his hand cupped her neck and gave a light little squeeze. It was sexy as hell and the thought of getting caught only made it that much more intense.

  “I’m listening,” she rasped under the light pressure of his hand. Her panties were beginning to get soaked with her arousal.

  “I. Still. Want. You. Don’t you ever doubt that again!”

  If her body hadn’t been beginning to hum like a tuning fork, she would have wondered how in the hell he’d gotten into her head. Leaning forward, he sucked her bottom lip between his teeth and nibbled gently. Her knees wobbled and she was thankful for the support of the wall. His free hand moved down and cupped her through her shorts. He rubbed his hand up and down, causing the soft fabric from her panties to rub against her wetness. She opened her mouth a little wider and gasped.

  “Are ya’ll coming?” Annie’s voice sounded from the kitchen.

  “Not yet. We’ll be right there,” he called back.

  They were answered by a low chuckling.

  “Have I made myself clear?” Trevor asked.

  The only thing she could do was nod.

  He took a step back and gave her a sly wink before taking her hand and leading her through the dining room and into the kitchen.

  Annie had been true to her word. The kitchen had a myriad of dishes covering every surface. It was crazy.

  “Are you okay dear? You look a little flushed,” Annie said as she came over and pressed the back of her hand to Lacey’s forehead.

  “Yes ma’am. I’m just a little tired.”

  In the soft kitchen light Lacey could see Annie clearly. The woman was stunning and she had her pegged for early sixties. Her dark brown hair was streaked with silver and pulled into a ponytail that swung around her shoulders. It didn’t look like the coarse type either. It was really pretty and shiny. Her deep brown eyes were bright and alert. At the corners were tiny crow’s feet, which in Lacey’s opinion, only enhanced the woman’s beauty. Tiny laugh lines surrounded big full lips and it was easy to see where Trevor got his mouth and smile from. They were almost mirror image.

  “Where’s Pop?” Trevor asked as he bit down into a piece of fried chicken.

  Annie fluttered her hand in the air and rolled her eyes. “He and Dylan had to round up a few cows that pulled a fence down. They took the horses out about two hours ago.”

  “This late?” Lacey said, unable to hide her concern for people she didn’t know.

  Ali laughed. “Daddy and Dylan know this ranch better than the back of their hands. They got this.” She shrugged it off.

  “Besides,” Dane said as he leaned his elbows on the counter and looked at Trevor, “Dylan’s pissed you get to go to LA and she doesn’t.”

  “Dylan’s a girl?”

  “Yeah, our baby sister. She’s about as headstrong and as stubborn as they come,” Ali said with a groan as she stood by Dane.

  Lacey laughed.

  “When is everyone else going to get here?” Trevor asked as he accepted the beer his mother handed him.

  “Tomorrow. Would you like something, dear?” Annie asked.

  “A beer would be fine, thanks.”

  “Girl that likes beer?” Dane chuckled.

  Lacey laughed. “I grew up in these parts. Beer is all I know,” she said.

  Annie handed her the bottle and Lacey popped the top and settled onto the stool beside Trevor. She was beginning to relax a little, but that was short lived.

  “You said you grew up in these parts? Where abouts?” Annie asked as she took a long pull on her bottle.

  Lacey swallowed, her throat suddenly feeling extremely dry. Why had she opened her big mouth? The chance that these people knew her family was slim but, because of the two towns’ close proximity, there was always a chance.

  She took a quick pull on her beer before finding her voice. “Marysville,” she said, not quite as strongly as she would have liked.

  “Really?! That’s interesting,” Ali piped up.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah, Mom used to teach there.”

  Annie chuckled. “Yeah I taught elementary about six years ago.

  Lacey’s stomach clinched. Run. Run now, her mind screamed. Six years ago. That was right in the middle of her problems with Robert. Trevor must have felt her unease because he stepped closer to her side and put an arm around her waist.

  “It’s been a long day. I think we’re going to turn in.”

  “Of course. Well, Meg and Rachel will be here sometime tomorrow afternoon. You guys are staying for the Fourth aren’t you?”

  Trevor snor
ted, almost like he was offended she even asked. “Are you kidding me? Miss the biggest event of the year? You’re crazy if you think I’d—we’d miss it.”

  “Good,” his mother said approvingly. “Will you be around tomorrow?”

  “Umm, probably not until the evening. Lacey has to go see her parents.”

  “Why not invite them up? I’d love to get to meet them,” Annie said brightly.

  “Umm—well, I don’t…” Lacey stammered trying to find the right words. She ducked her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.

  “That’s just not a good idea,” Trevor said firmly.

  “Oh. Well whatever makes you comfortable dear. We wouldn’t want you to be here and not have a good time.”

  “Thanks,” Lacey said softly. It was taking every ounce of control she had left to keep the tears at bay.

  Trevor led them from the room and suddenly Lacey felt very drained. She clung heavily to his hand. He turned and led them up the stairs.

  “Don’t we need to get our bags?” she asked.

  “Dane already put them in our room.”

  “Oh.”

  They walked up the stairs and to the second door on the right. Trevor took her inside and closed the door gently behind them. It must have been his old room because on the walls hung pictures of baseball heroes. Trophies lined shelves on the wall.

  “Nice,” was all she could manage as she sagged onto the bed.

  Trevor pulled open his bag that was sitting on his desk and pulled out a t-shirt. He then handed it to her. “Wear this,” he said.

  “But I have night clothes,” she protested.

  “I’m sure you do, but I’d really just like for you to wear it,” he said softly.

  She unfolded it and held it up. On the back it said Barns with the number fifteen on the back. With a shrug she slipped out of her clothes. After removing her bra, she pulled the shirt over her head. She sighed as the soft cotton whispered against her skin. It was big on her, brushing down against her thighs. Since they were traveling, she’d chosen to wear a simple pair of black lace boy shorts.