You Can't Go Home Again

by Aubrianna Hunter

  “I don’t mind if he doesn’t. Go ahead…stitch him up.”

  “Thanks for your permission,” Jace said, letting the rancor soak through his tone.

  Dr. Johanssen shrugged. “Okay, then I’ll be right back.”

  The doctor left the room, and a minute or so later a nurse walked in. She was probably in her late fifties, black and big. She was carrying a needle and looked ready to use it.

  “What’s that for?” Jace asked.

  “It’s to relax you. It’s a little tough to numb your head with a local, not enough tissue.”

  “So, this is gonna knock me out?”

  “No, not really. It’s a mild sedative. You’ll just be very, very relaxed. And happy. Think of it like a kick-butt cocktail.”

  * * * * *

  “So, this’ll make him happier? Can you give him two?”

  The nurse glanced at Dani, then back to the glaring man on the bed. “Sorry, sweetie pie. But you grabbed this tiger by the tail, you’re just gonna have to deal with him.” She looked again at Jace, taking a minute to study him, head to toe. His dress shirt was loose, having come untucked from his pants. He’d undone a couple buttons. His green gaze was shooting a combination of fire and lust toward the woman in the chair. She turned back to Dani, “But mmm, mmm, child. He sure looks worth it to me.”

  It took Dani a moment to process what the nurse meant, but when she did, she tried to correct her. “Oh, no…we’re not… I mean, he’s not… Well, it’s not my tail.”

  The nurse had just injected him with the shot, so when she smiled over at Dani, a knowing grin lit her wise eyes. “Well, give that twenty minutes to kick in and it can be your tail if you want it.”

  She chuckled a little at her own joke as she walked out.

  When Dani turned to Jace, she found him already lying back on the bed. She could see the muscles of his body starting to relax, the frown lines on his face loosening. Apparently they weren’t permanent, just a product of her presence.

  By the time the doctor got back, Jace was awake, but smiling dopily at the ceiling. Dani laughed, seeing the look on his face. She smiled at him and reached out to take his hand. When he caught sight of Dr. Johanssen, his eyes clouded over with anger before closing down into slits.

  * * * * *

  The doctor went to work right away, talking with Dani the whole time. Jace struggled with his temper. His thoughts were slow and hazy. He could see the doctor flirting with Dani…his Dani. He wanted to beat him to a pulp, kill him for even thinking he could have her. Yet he couldn’t seem to make his body respond to his thoughts. He couldn’t even form the words to tell him to get the hell away from her.

  When the doctor had finished, putting the last strip of tape over the bandage, Jace heard him ask Dani to dinner. He was finally angry enough to make the words form. “No fuckin’ way she’s goin’ out with a smarmy dickhead like you.”

  The stunned expressions on both their faces sent Jace off into peals of laughter. By the time he stopped laughing, he felt Dani standing him up, dragging his arm around her neck so she could balance his weight.

  Jace loved the smell of her hair. Her head was right below his nose, so he leaned in, getting a good whiff of her shampoo. He grabbed the ends in his fingers, tangling them in there and rubbing the silky strands. “Love you hair. Isss so soff and silky.” He kissed her head.

  “I’ll just bet it is. I bet everything feels ‘silky’ right now. I’m thinkin’ I need one of those shots too.”

  * * * * *

  As Dani struggled to get him into the car, she realized there was no way he could go back to the dinner like this. Once she finally got him poured into a seat, she buckled his seat belt and grabbed her phone to call Ann.

  While she was talking to Ann, explaining the situation, she was also giving the driver the name of Jace’s bar. At the same time, she was busy smacking his hand away while he was trying to grab her hair. And her dress, and her arms.

  She moved away from him, until she saw him fall over. Then she heaved out a sigh, moving back over until she was sitting next to him. She propped him up and he leaned onto her, resting his head on her shoulder. She also let him play with her hair. He wouldn’t remember any of it tomorrow anyway.

  The driver dropped them off at the front entrance. When Dani walked in, she flagged the bouncer down, asking for help to get their boss upstairs.

  “I have never seen the boss get this drunk before. What y’all been drinkin’?”

  “Not drinking, Ryan. He had a shot of something at the hospital before they stitched him up. He got a fist to the eye earlier.”

  As they wrangled him through the door, Ryan asked, “He was in a fight? Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him fight before, neither.”

  “No, no fight. He was sparring with Zack, his buddy. Apparently they were too enthusiastic.”

  They got Jace into his room, tossing him down on the bed.

  “Aaahh, well, all right. I’ll let Dave know he needs to lock up tonight.”

  “Thanks, Ryan.”

  “’Night, Ryan!” Jace yelled from the bedroom.

  Dani locked the door on his apartment and headed over to the couch. She wasn’t going to leave him here alone—she wasn’t sure he could even get water if he needed it. She kicked off her shoes and looked around for a blanket. It was already ten o’clock; no wonder she was so tired.

  After almost an hour trying to get comfortable, Dani realized it wasn’t going to happen in this dress. She got up and tiptoed into Jace’s room. She was surprised to find the bed empty until she heard the toilet flush in the bathroom. She turned and tried to run out before he saw her.

  “Dani?”

  She turned slowly. He was obviously shaking off some of the effects, but she could still hear the fuzziness in his voice. “Yeah, I didn’t want to leave you here alone. So I’m going to sleep on the couch. I was, umm, well… I just wanted to borrow one of your shirts. This dress is not particularly comfortable for sleeping.”

  He walked slowly over to his dresser, opened the drawer and pulled out a white T-shirt, tossing it to her.

  She caught it and stood there. Staring. She knew she was staring at him, but couldn’t seem to peel her eyes away. He’d undressed sometime in the last hour. He was standing there, wearing only his boxers. She couldn’t stop looking at his body. He was tan. The scars she’d seen were soft silver patches on his otherwise perfect skin. He was all lean muscle, trim and toned, but bulkier than he’d been at twenty-two. His chest was firm, his shoulders wide. And his arms were huge. Big and solid, without crossing into body-builder bulk.

  * * * * *

  He let her stare. Only fair, since he was doing the same. He let his gaze trail over her long, silky hair, straight and hanging almost to her waist. Her shoulders were thin, narrow, but straight and strong. Her arms were toned and tanned. She had gotten curvier over the years. Either that or he’d blocked out just how stunning her body really was. Her tiny waist flared both ways, into soft, rounded hips and lush breasts. Breasts he knew to be firm. Breasts with dark pink nipples that pouted, begging for his touch.

  When he felt the rush of blood to his groin, he quickly stumbled his way back to the bed. As he climbed under the covers, he saw her look away, blood heating her cheeks.

  “Thanks. For the shirt. I’ll just…”

  “Sleep in here? It’ll be more comfortable.” And he needed to hold her. Whatever else this shot did, he felt like his defenses were crumbled at his feet. He was too relaxed, too open. He knew that the naked desire was clear in his face if she even tried to look.

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine on the couch. I’m not as tall as you are, anyway. I just needed the shirt, so I’ll see you in…”

  “Please?”

  * * * * *

  She’d been heading out the door, trying to get away while she still felt like she could. At the one word, she stopped and turned toward him.

  “We used to sleep together all the time.”<
br />
  She looked back at him, unable to stop the rush of pain. “We used to be friends.”

  There was nothing he could have said that would have made her lie next to him. Nothing he could have done, no apologies would have made a difference. But the look of raw pain that flashed across his face at her words…that stopped her cold. Right now he was vulnerable. Just as he had been two years ago. This time, she would be there. It would never be enough, but she had to do something.

  She turned back on her heel and quickly changed in the bathroom, dropping her dress in a heap on the floor. When she walked out, he was sitting up, watching the door, a hopeful look in his eyes. She heard the breath leave his chest in a whoosh when she lifted the covers beside him.

  It took less than a second for his arm to slide around her waist. She felt it settle there right before he pulled, tugging her closer to his body. She lay there, tense and nervous, until she heard his breathing settle into a slow, steady rhythm. Just as she relaxed, felt the nerves gently release, she heard him whisper, “God, I’ve missed you.”

  Tears ran down her cheeks before she could call them back. Praying he didn’t remember this in the morning, she couldn’t stop the words. “I’ve missed you too.”

  Chapter 24

  Dani woke from another erotic dream. She had no idea what time it was, but it was still dark. She felt something heavy across her waist. Thinking it was the blankets somehow wrapped around her, she rolled, causing a delicious friction of cotton against her taut nipples. She couldn’t stop her soft groan at the feeling.

  The weight around her waist stirred, pulling her closer. At once Dani recalled where she was and who was causing the weight.

  When she heard Jace groan, heard him whisper her name, she thought at first that he was awake. She turned her head, bringing her shoulder in contact with his chest. She saw his eyes were closed, his teeth gritted, as if in pain. When his arm squeezed again, pulling her tight against him, she realized it wasn’t pain, but pleasure. He wasn’t awake, but dreaming.

  At the feel of his stiff length pressing against her ass, she knew it was the same kind of dream she’d been having.

  He thrust against her, his shaft prodding as though begging entrance. When his hand slipped upward, gently cupping her breast, she knew she should stop him. She also knew she wasn’t going to.

  When his fingers brushed her aching nipple, her mind slipped away, seeing something from another time, another place.

  She and Jace were on a blanket by the pond. Different from the one five years before. He kissed her, tenderly, lovingly, as he ran his hand between her thighs, gently cupping her sex.

  She felt his hand slide between her damp folds, teasing her to the point of insanity. He delved the blunt tip of his finger into her waiting sheath, plunging in and out, bringing her to the edge. As her body tensed, preparing for release, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

  Dani came back to reality as her vision climaxed. Her body was heavy, her breasts achy. Her core was empty, wet, needing release. She didn’t know if she had been seeing a vision of things to come, or simply reliving a dream…his or hers. She didn’t really care.

  She listened, trying to decide if Jace was still asleep, if she could slide her hand down and find the release her body was craving. When she felt his hand squeeze her nipple, pinching it between his thumb and forefinger, she cried out, unable to stop the sound.

  She knew the moment he woke up, felt every muscle in his body go from relaxed to taut; the arm around her waist pulled her tighter. She waited for him to pull away, to say something to hurt her. To strike out. When he didn’t, but rather pulled her closer, she felt relief overshadow the surprise.

  She knew she should get out of the bed, should stop him, stop this. When he squeezed again, she arched into his palm, hoping he was still drugged enough that he wouldn’t remember this tomorrow. That he would think it was still a dream.

  Need drove her. She flipped around, pressing her mouth to his, throwing her leg over his hip. She felt his tongue dart out, desperate to meet hers, to taste. His hand slid down to cup her ass, pulling her tight against his raging erection.

  * * * * *

  She twisted her hips, writhing against him, making him crazy. He had to get the shirt off her. He wrapped his arms around her, rolling to his back and shoving her upright at the shoulders. He groaned at the feel of her wet heat through his boxers, the thin fabric doing nothing to dull the sensation. As he pushed his shirt up and over her head, her hips rolled, pushing him closer to the edge. His shaft pulsed, throbbing, aching to bury inside her. She twisted, riding faster. He cupped her breasts in his hands, sitting up to suckle one nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard, pulling the peak in deep, laving it with his tongue. She cried out, wrapping her hands into his hair, holding him against her.

  “Dani…aahhh, fuck. You have to stop or I’m going to come right now.”

  She twisted again, a small cry escaping before she bit her lip. She shook her head, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. “Don’t stop…please…I need… Aaaahhh.”

  Fighting for control, Jace flipped her over, pressing his weight down on top of her. He felt his seed rising up, on the verge of coming. Too fast. He didn’t want this to end. He tried to push down his boxers, managing to free just the tip of his shaft, before she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him back against her.

  He tried to align himself, felt the head of his shaft separate her wet folds. He grazed by her opening, tearing a groan from his lips. Pushing harder, trying to sink into her waiting sheath, he slipped by, his shaft moving upward. He brushed by her clitoris, once, twice, before pulling back again, desperate to bury himself inside her.

  He heard her cry out, felt her muscles clenching, her legs squeezing his waist. He felt her body tighten and release as her orgasm rolled through her, his cock rubbing over her swollen nub. Her cry was too much. He thrust against her, his seed shooting from his body, jet after hot jet. He’d never felt this much pleasure. Her hands dug into his back, raking lightly, exciting him even more. He pushed against her again and again, coming in his boxers like some damn green kid.

  He buried his face in her neck, nipping a little as the pleasure bordering on pain started to recede.

  He kissed her neck, as if to apologize for the nip, whispering in her ear. “Only with you.”

  * * * * *

  When she heard his breathing steady out, falling into a soft, slow rhythm, she gave thought to running. It occurred to her that this wouldn’t have happened without that shot. She decided to stay and play dumb in the morning. She hoped he would think it all some crazy dream.

  After a quick trip to the bathroom, she found the shirt he’d tossed, slipped it over her head, then climbed back in beside him. His arm darted out, wrapping around her waist again, pulling her next to him even in sleep.

  As she started to nod off, she had one final thought; she had missed him, missed this, more than even she had known. It was a shame he had to be drugged to be nice to her.

  Chapter 25

  Jace woke up, hard and horny. Normal. He was also hung over. That was odd. He didn’t recall even drinking last night, let alone enough that he would feel like this. He stumbled out of bed, tripping over something on the floor of the bathroom before he finally managed to get to the sink. After getting a drink and splashing some water on his face, he started to recall some fuzzy memories of last night.

  Dani in that sexy purple dress, riding in a limo with her pressed next to him. The hospital…the prick doctor who kept hitting on her. He even remembered the large, scary black woman who came to give him a shot. Apparently that shot packed quite a punch, because everything after that was hazy.

  He turned, aiming for the shower when he tripped again. He looked down and saw that very same purple dress on his bathroom floor.

  This time heat flooded through along with the memories, bringing his shaft pulsing back to life. Dani…she was here…in his bed. He
glanced out the bathroom door and saw her still sleeping. She was curled up like a child, her arms wrapped around the pillow. A smile spread across his face as he recalled her sleeping like that in college, too.

  More memories assailed him. He’d been dreaming of making love with her, on a blanket out by the pond. She’d been so responsive, coming almost as soon as he slipped his finger inside her. Then the dream had changed. They’d been here, in his bed. She’d been pressed against him, her back to his front. He’d squeezed her breast and she’d gone crazy, flipping him over, straddling him.

  Just the memory of that dream had him on the verge of release. He turned back to the shower, cranking on the water and stripping down. As he pulled off his boxers, he realized just how hot the dream had been. He had been in high school the last time he’d had a wet dream, but sleeping next to her had been enough to bring one on.

  It had been so vivid, so real. He had been able to feel her against him. At the remembered sensations, his cock gave a little jump, demanding attention. It took almost no time for him to find his own release.

  Once he was cleaned up, shampooed and shaved, he went in to wake Dani up. He found her out of bed and in his kitchen making coffee. She looked rumpled, messy, and grumpy. She was perfect.

  “I forgot you’re not functional without coffee in the morning.”

  She glared over her shoulder at him. “Mugs?” she asked with one raised eyebrow.

  He strolled into the kitchen, only slightly annoyed by just how right she looked standing there in his T-shirt. He reached over her shoulder, needing to be close to her, and opened the cabinet, pulling down two mugs.

  * * * * *

  She pulled away, stepping out of his arms and leaning against the counter. He was too close. She couldn’t breathe. Had she really thought that after the earth-shattering orgasm of last night, she’d be able to be anywhere near him? It hadn’t helped, hadn’t eased the attraction. If anything, it had revved up her sex drive, making it worse.