by Debra Kayn
“I’ll strip you of your jacket.” His eyes warmed and he carried her into the bedroom. “I’ll take everything off you, until there’s only you. I don’t want you hiding anything from me. You and me. No shields and nothing to hide.”
Upstairs, he carefully unzipped her jacket. She stared into his eyes, caught between wanting to help him shuck her clothes and explaining to him that having sex went against everything she thought she wanted. She couldn’t even remember why she kept to herself and never forged friendships with anyone with all his attention focused on her.
“Stay with me.” He peeled her shirt off over her head. “I want your eyes on me. Don’t build the wall to protect yourself.”
“Rain?”
“No, babe.” He kneeled down in front of her, shimmied her leather pants off the tops of her boots, and set about working on the laces. “Me. You.”
She crossed her arms and held on to her bare shoulders, covering her bare breasts. The other time she’d had sex was different. She’d stayed partway dressed, and they were in a car. Not the best place to lose her virginity, but at the time, she’d only wanted to get the job done. She’d found out she wasn’t missing anything by not having an intimate relationship, which proved her dad’s belief that she could ruin anything.
At seventeen, she didn’t know any better. She only wanted to be normal. But, even sex wasn’t the way the other girls at school talked about when she finally did it just to say she did it.
Rain took complete control, taking the worry from her shoulders, undressing her with a surprising tenderness that brought tears to her eyes. He forced her to stay focused on what was happening between them. Even going so far as to hold her tightly every night while she fought the darkness in her head.
He was different. Confident and determined, he made her feel special. Tonight, she wanted to be special. Tomorrow, she’d figure out if she was doing the right thing or not.
One boot flew across the room. Then the other boot joined the first. His gaze slid up to hers, and his hand undid her leather pants. She sucked in her stomach and held her breath as his knuckles skimmed her flesh, taking everything, including her panties, to the floor.
“Uh … Rain?” She stepped away.
He stood and pulled her against him. Her gulp echoed in her own ears. He didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. His face said it all.
She touched her lips to his and whispered, “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“You couldn’t.” He kissed her back.
Unable to meet his eyes, she stood beside the bed, conscious of her nudity. He stripped off his clothes, down to his boxers. She glanced down at the hardened length that cotton couldn’t hide, and he chuckled.
She blew out her cheeks and exhaled. “I should tell you something … ”
“Later.” He stalked toward her, picked her up, startling her.
“Ra — ” The rest of her words swallowed by his mouth.
He took her down to the bed. Not softly. Not gingerly. But tackled her, keeping his weight braced on his elbows at the sides of her shoulders on the bed. She gasped. His lower body pressed comfortably between her legs.
In his clothes, he was tough, gorgeous, and scary. Out of his clothes, he was far more beautiful. The sculpted muscles from head to toe showed a man who took care of himself. His tats highlighted his masculine body better than fancy clothes. The scars — one on his right shoulder and a puckered line alone his ribs she’d noticed earlier — showed her what kind of man lay on top of her.
One who fought for the safety of those he called family, who wasn’t afraid to face the darkness of life. A man who wanted to battle her past and keep her safe. She loved the idea. She wanted to put everything in his hands. Yet she knew better.
“Stop.” He laid his forehead against hers. “Get outta your head and stay with me.”
“I’m not … ” She took in his eyes, soft and warm. “Okay.”
His smile stormed through the armor she held in front of her and settled comfortably inside her. She warmed and returned a shy smile, doing her best to show him how far she’d come from the person she was yesterday, a year ago, five years ago, even from the twelve-year-old who’d watched her father try to kill her and succeed in killing her mother, all because cursed blood flowed in her veins.
“Babe.” He kissed her neck. “Stay with me. Just us … think about us.”
His tongue stroked her skin. Consumed with how his mouth relaxed the tenseness, she missed when he’d shifted to his hip beside her until he cupped her breast and lowered his mouth to her nipple. She pressed her head into the mattress. Her spine naturally arched to match and meet the rhythmic sucking. Longing hit her hard, and she believed he gave her the most pleasurable experience in the world.
Keeping his attention on bringing her sweet pleasure, he wrapped his fingers around her thigh and hooked her leg over his hip. Aware of the vulnerable position, lying on her back, her legs spread, she couldn’t think of protesting, because he skimmed his finger along her wetness, causing even more exquisite sensations.
He lifted his mouth from her. “That’s it. Give it to me, babe.”
Her breath came hard, already turned on. She reached for him, grasping his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin, caught in her own need for something more.
“Please … ”
“Condom.” He kissed her, rolled away from her, and opened the nightstand drawer.
She dropped her arms. Relieved for a break from the torment of needing more than simple touches, she inhaled deeply. At the same time she wanted him to keep going slow, to keep the fire burning inside her, making her feel alive.
Her need for him came swiftly and wild. She couldn’t get enough of him, take enough of him, fill herself enough with him to satisfy the desperation that made her hollow inside. She grabbed his hand when he turned toward her.
“Rain.” She suddenly needed him inside her.
She trailed her hand down his hard abdomen to his waist, yet the part of him she needed to fill her remained out of reach. He moved over her, settling between her legs on his knees. She trembled under his heated gaze.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, running his hands along the length of her legs.
She moaned and lifted her hips. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he lowered his head. She jolted, until his warm, wet lips settled on her, sealing them together as he worked his tongue over her. She mewed, bucking her pelvis against him.
The pleasure was so intense, she clasped his head between her thighs and reached for the explosion hovering out of her touch. He brought her to a higher level with his mouth. As her muscles convulsed, spasming in ecstasy, she screamed his name.
He moved over her. “Look at me, babe. I want to see your eyes when I slide inside your body.”
She squirmed under him and forced herself to look at him. He smiled down on her as the tip of his hardness nudged her below. His weight and width stretched her in the most seductive way. Her body took notice and rejuvenated.
“That’s it, babe, take all of me.” She hooked her ankles around him and lifted. “Oh, God.”
He put his mouth on hers, his breath ragged. It was happening again. She could feel the buildup coming again and sunk her hands into his hair, holding him in place. His hips moved, and he held her gaze.
“Again,” he muttered, lowering his head and kissing her hard.
She came again on his command. He groaned, driving his hips into hers, once, twice, three times. Then he planted himself to the root and held himself still. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the tremors rolling over his shoulders. The husky moan coming from his chest left her limbs weak, shaky, spent, and gloriously blissful.
Then suddenly he slid out of her, and his weight was gone. She blinked into the darkness, unable to process what happen
ed. He’d simply left.
She curled over on her side and hugged her knees to her chest. How could she be so wrong and let her guard down? He’d wanted sex. She gave it to him freely. Now he’d throw her away, and someone else would become his woman.
Chapter Nineteen
The soft knock came again. Rain jerked on the jeans he’d swiped off the floor after springing from the bed and away from Tori.
He’d almost missed the noise, it was so faint, and however much he wanted to lie in bed and hold on to the gift Tori gave him, he couldn’t ignore his men. He zipped, leaving the top button undone, and flipped the outside light on. Then he looked out the slim window beside the door before turning off the alarm system.
He opened the door. “Jedman.”
Grim and covered in grease from what Rain suspected came from working a late shift at Shift’s Garage, Jedman’s mouth tightened. He widened his stance. This better not pull him away from the house. Not tonight when Tori waited for him upstairs.
“Taylor wanted me to pass on a message.” Jedman glanced over his shoulder and quit talking.
Rain followed Jedman’s gaze toward the stairs. Tori stood on the second step, fully dressed in a pair of her new shorts and a University of Washington sweatshirt Rain knew she’d nabbed out of his dresser. Her purse hung from her shoulder.
“Babe, go back to bed.” He motioned with his chin.
She looked through him to Jedman. “Are you going to the bar when you’re done talking with Rain?”
His chest tightened and he frowned. Why the hell would she need to know that?
Jedman nodded. “Yeah.”
“Can you give me a ride?” She walked past him to stand beside Jedman. “Please?”
“Uh, yeah, I — ”
“You’re not going anywhere.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to him. He softened his voice. “Go back upstairs. I’ll be done in a minute, and I want you undressed and in my bed.”
She stiffened. “No. I want to leave.”
“You’re staying.”
“I’ll take my chances with Lagsturns.” She pulled away. “I no longer want to stay.”
“Jedman, don’t go anywhere.” He grabbed Tori’s hand. “You, come with me.”
She’d pushed him away again. He led her into the kitchen where they could speak without Jedman overhearing their business and turned her around until she faced him. Frustrated, he cupped her face between his hands and pushed his impatience away.
“What happened?” He stroked the angle of her cheekbone with his thumb.
“I changed my mind.”
“You did?”
“Yes,” she said.
He cussed under his breath. “We’re going to have to work on your tendencies to fight me every step, babe.”
“We don’t have to fight. Just let me go. There’s nothing you can say or I can do.” She lifted her chin.
“Can’t. I promised not to let you run. You’re staying. We’ll talk.”
“I’m not running. I’m walking away. There’s a difference.” She pursed her lips. “I think we’ve said everything we needed to in your bedroom.”
He shook his head. “You’re whacked.”
She glared, her flushed cheeks growing even redder.
He laughed, leaning forward and kissing her open mouth. “I don’t know why you went and threw a snit into our night but I’ll tell you, I’ve only had a sampling of what we have together. I have no desire to lose you now. Give me a few minutes with Jedman, and then I’ll come upstairs. The longer you’re down here causing trouble, the longer it’ll take for me to get back upstairs and make you scream my name again. You get what I’m saying?”
“I didn’t scream,” she whispered.
“You screamed.”
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and clamped down. He pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re killing me, babe. Trust me, okay? Let me have all of you. Whatever you’re dealing with, put yourself first. Put me first and trust in us, huh?”
“You left me.”
She spoke so softly, he almost missed the whole point of her being upset. He caught it though, and it gave him the biggest insight into what was bothering her. “Honey, Jedman was knocking at the door while we were having sex. Considering I ignored the knock and satisfied us both, you can still tell me I left you? I had to check to make sure everything was all right in town. I can’t disappoint the family.”
“He knocked?” She tilted her head up to look at him.
He nodded. “Now will you let me see what’s going on so we can go back to you and me?”
She studied him, and he wanted to tell her to stop living inside her head, but he also knew she had to come to these decisions on her own if she was going to learn to trust him. “Yeah.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “Good.”
They walked together into the foyer. He let go of her hand and gave her a pat on the butt to get her moving upstairs. Her eyelids fluttered, and she hesitated, searching his eyes. He growled. Damn, she was sexy, and he wanted her again.
He waited until she’d climbed the steps and disappeared down the hallway before turning his attention to Jedman. “What’s Taylor want?”
“She found this taped to the back door of Cactus Cove.” Jedman handed over a small piece of paper. “Security is set up for tonight, until you want to deal with it tomorrow. There are two guys staked from the house to the end of your road. They’ll stay all night.”
He quickly read the message.
Tori — Leave Pitnam. You don’t belong here, and Rain will screw you over. Go, before something worse happens to you than a fire.
“Shit.”
Jedman cleared his throat. “Sanchez?”
“Sounds like him.” He crumbled the paper in his fist. “I’ll be in first thing in the morning.”
“We’ve got you covered.” Jedman stepped toward the door and stopped. “Are you going to tell Tori, boss?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
The last thing he wanted to do was pull her away from moving forward, but the new threat was real. He wouldn’t chance putting her into danger, and that meant she’d have to be aware of her surroundings, and no throwing a fit and running away from him.
He set the alarm, shut out the lights, and walked up the stairs. Tired and agitated, he decided to wait until tomorrow to fill Tori in on what was happening. She didn’t need any more stress, and as long as she stayed with him, he’d keep her safe.
Luckily, when he’d entered the bedroom, stripped out of his jeans, and joined her in bed, he found her curled on her side, sound asleep. He slid under the covers, rolled over to her side, and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her toward his front. His hand sprawled against her bare stomach, and he smiled. She’d listened and gotten naked for him.
She mewled, squirming tighter against him. He kissed her hair and laid his head on the pillow. This felt right.
“Rain?”
He breathed heavily. “Yeah?”
“Is everything okay?” She wiggled until she could turn her head enough to look at him, even in the darkness.
“Right now, everything is good.” He lifted his head and kissed her. “You need to sleep.”
“I’m tired,” she mumbled.
He pulled her tighter against him. “A lot’s happened to you.”
Too much, and it wasn’t over. The Lagsturns came to cause trouble, and they’d honed in on Tori. He rubbed her stomach. He’d let himself relax with Crystal, never seeing what was happening right under his nose, and he’d never make that mistake again.
“Rain?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m out of grape lollipops,” she whispered.
“I’ll buy you some tomorrow.”
She relaxed. “Thanks.”
Tori was different than other women. He’d known it from the first time she tried to escape from Sanchez’s riders in his parking lot. He’d bash heads if they tried to touch her or destroy her.
Tori was like porcelain. Strong as a whole, but one little chip or crack, and her world would crumble. He was here to make sure she stayed pristine the way she deserved.
She jolted, and her hand clenched his arm. “Rain?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Don’t let go of me. Not tonight at least,” she said.
“I’m not going anywhere. Be quiet and sleep. Nothing is going to happen to you when you’re with me. I promise.”
Everything was okay. She’d stayed, and he had her in his arms. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. One of these days, she’d come to him with her mind open, her body welcoming him, and no darkness beating against her back. She deserved much more, and he’d make sure he was the one who gave her everything.
Chapter Twenty
Sequestered with the men of Bantorus inside Cactus Cove after finishing her morning shift in the Coffee Shack, Tori stared at them all in absolute horror. Her heart pounded in her chest. Did rules and laws mean nothing to them?
Whoever this Sanchez person was, he couldn’t go around stealing women or transporting drugs. The law enforcement officers, the FBI, and teams of undercover narcs handled that kind of stuff. She’d seen the reality shows.
“While I’m meeting with Sanchez at Cozy Inn, I want everyone here covering the women. Bring them all into the compound … no, bring them into the bar. Cook them dinner and keep them under your watch.” Rain pointed at Torque and Slade. “You two will be with me, but I’m going in alone. Sanchez agreed to talk with me one-on-one.”
“I don’t like this.” Slade shook his head. “Crystal’s with him.”
“According to her, she got kicked out.”
“Bullshit. The skank lies through her capped teeth.” Slade pushed off the barstool. “I still think we should run them out of town. They’ve threatened one of ours twice. That shit can’t be ignored.”