Abrupt Changes: A Second Chance Romance (O-Town Book 3)

by Karen Renee

  He leaned forward to help me get his shirt off.

  I tossed it aside, and took my sweet time exploring the ridges and planes of his bulkier torso. The dips and curves were delicious, but he must have been impatient because as I tried to unbutton his pants, Clint swatted my hands out of the way and jerked his pants and his boxers down.

  A rush of wet hit my pussy from seeing his erection. His cock was glorious. An ache built in my core, but I ignored it. I kissed his belly, traced a ridge which led to one side of the v of his hips. I followed down that angular plane, but Clint wrapped his hand around my hair, and I looked up.

  When he spoke, his voice was husky. “Thought you were gonna lick down my happy trail?”

  I grinned. “You have more than one happy trail as far as I’m concerned. Your picture-perfect hip bones making a ‘v’ damn sure makes me happy.”

  He chuckled and let go of my head.

  I gripped his length firmly the way he liked it. My tongue traced the vein snaking its way up his cock, and then I took him fully in my mouth, relishing the sound of Clint’s satisfied hiss. How I could forget how good giving him head could be, I would never know.

  I hummed around him as I stroked faster and used more suction.

  “Christ, Rae, slow down. I want this to last.”

  My free hand slid to my crotch. I rubbed myself for no more than five seconds before Clint saw what I was doing.

  He grabbed my wrist. “Fuck this. You’re done, mi reina.”

  I pulled away. “What are you—”

  He cut me off by draping me over his shoulder. As he stood, he stepped out of his pants and boxers.

  Next thing I knew, I was laying on his bed, his hands at my shorts. Hunger filled his eyes. “You’re not gettin’ yourself off while you get me off.”

  He yanked my shorts and panties down in one fell swoop. “Shirt off, woman.”

  I sat up to take my shirt off. He laid down on his back, his head at my feet. As soon as my shirt was gone, he grabbed my hips and planted me on his face.

  I hissed, then said, “It’s about time I got what I wanted.”

  He swatted my ass. “Get back to business, Raegan.”

  The pain gave way to pleasure, and I ground on his face. A bead of pre-cum appeared on the head of his cock and I licked it clean. Then I took him in my mouth, struggling to stay focused because Clint’s oral skills surpassed mine.

  I flew off the edge into ecstasy and had to stop tending to him. He didn’t mind, if his self-satisfied chuckle was any indicator.

  He rolled me to my back, turned around, and then he surged inside me. Between his cock inside me, his mouth plundering mine, and his hands at my breasts, he made me orgasm again by the time he climaxed.

  Clint

  RAEGAN CLIMBED OVER me to settle into the bed with a smirk on her face. “I thought you wanted to watch baseball?”

  I gave her a hard look. “You’re gonna get spanked again, you keep it up.”

  She laid a leg over mine and a hand on my chest. “I was being serious, and how do you not have a TV in here?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t know. Just don’t. Besides, sex with you always trumps sports.”

  Her brown eyes blazed at me. “I will quote you on that at some future random moment.”

  “And I will remind you how fuckin’ good this was at that very moment, too. No matter who might be around. Including your nosy mother.”

  “She’s not that nosy,” she muttered to my chest.

  I burst with laughter. “Oh! And I suppose Mother Teresa wasn’t that much of a saint, eh?”

  She swatted my chest while chuckling. “Stop it.”

  “All right, I will. Just to say, you gotta put some clothes on tonight.”

  She kissed my chest, and I fought my dick getting hard again.

  “Okay. Let me snuggle for another moment, and I will.”

  I closed my eyes thinking how much I enjoyed this. All of it. Taking her mother to an appointment, lunch, coming back here at the end of the day. It doesn’t get any sweeter than this. As soon as the thought struck, visions of a baby added to our mix swam in my mind and I knew I was wrong. It could get sweeter, and I couldn’t fucking wait for it to happen.

  MY PHONE ALARM WOKE us at five-thirty, which surprised me. I expected someone to come for her in the middle of the night. The fact nobody did disappointed me as much as it pleased me. I turned off the alarm, rolled back to my back, and Raegan climbed on top of me.

  “Shower time!”

  My hands settled on her waist. “Yeah, but how are you this damn chipper in the morning, woman?”

  She grinned devilishly. “Because, now I get to finish what I started last night.”

  I rolled us over. “Don’t be so sure about that. I love your mouth on me, but I love being in your pussy even more.”

  Her hips rolled beneath me and she slid her eyes to the side.

  “Fuck it. I’m making love to you right now, and we’ll do other naughty things in the shower.”

  NINETY MINUTES LATER, we were both in Penny’s kitchen sipping coffee.

  From over the rim of her cup, Rae asked, “So, what’s on for your day, Clint?”

  I put my cup down. “Once I check in with Paul and Debenedetti, I plan to talk to some other sources.”

  She put her cup down and looked at me with wide eyes. “Really? You have sources? I mean, I’m not surprised, but you sound so...”

  “Professional,” I supplied.

  She shrugged. “That too, but I was going to say ‘glamorous.’”

  I shook my head. “Nothing glamorous about my job, Rae. You gonna eat the other half of that omelet?”

  She made a face, cut what was left in half and gave some to me.

  As I scarfed down the eggs, Penny entered the kitchen without her walker. From the look on her face, it took effort for her to do that. “You got a number for Tommy?”

  Of all the things to come out of her mouth, I didn’t expect that.

  “What do you want that for?” Raegan asked.

  “He’s a friend.”

  Raegan tried to hide her reaction, but anyone could see she wasn’t thrilled with that.

  I spoke, so the two of them didn’t have words. “Penny, I have his number, but he’s getting info for us. It would be best if you wait until things blow over before you contact him.”

  “Fine. But you be sure to give me his information.”

  She turned to leave, and I said, “Penny. Know what the therapist said yesterday, but if you need the walker, use it.”

  “I know, Clint. I will.”

  Rae looked at me like she had something to say, but I shook my head.

  She took our plates and loaded them into the dishwasher. I stood, downed the last of my coffee, and joined her at the counter. I slid my arm around her waist. “Walk me to the porch?”

  If she rolled her eyes at me, she hid it well, for once.

  In a low voice, she said, “I love it when you disguise a demand as a question.”

  I guided her through the living room, catching Penny’s eye as we went. “I’ll see you later, Penny. Try to get back for lunch, but no guarantees today.”

  She nodded.

  When the door closed behind us, Rae launched in. “You cannot give her contact info for that guy!”

  I cupped her cheeks. “Honey. You gotta let that go. If she wants to reach out to him, that’s her business. I won’t give her anything until this is settled for you because I want Debenedetti focused. Now, he’s got a man watching the house. Still, you keep the gun close by and don’t let your guard down. Understand?”

  She nodded. “Of course. I’m more worried about you and your ‘sources’, which I’m guessing might not be the safest people to be around.”

  I grinned. “Nothing I can’t handle, mamita. Give me a kiss.”

  Chapter 25

  High Falooting

  Raegan

  MOM GAVE ME HER ‘MOM-stare’ as I trudged to the couch. I sta
red back at her, but she said nothing.

  Dammit! She knew me too well.

  I couldn’t stand the silence.

  “How were things with Brock last night? More Triominos or did you convince him to play poker with you?”

  She gave a short shake of her head. “Things were fine with Brock. He only told me one Navy story before he informed me there was a baseball game on last night. Lucky for him, I’m a fan of Milwaukee. We watched that until the end. Sadly, the Nationals won, which made Brock’s day. First shortcoming he’s shown.”

  I chuckled. “You mean since he doesn’t root for your team, it’s a shortcoming?”

  She shrugged. “All men have at least one.”

  My lips twisted. “So do most women, Mom.”

  “You’re right. So, what are you doing today? Sifting through more of your sister’s belongings?”

  I fought hanging my head. That wasn’t in the plan, though it probably should have been. “No, Mom. I’m going to research movers and get estimates for moving my things down from New York.”

  She turned bright eyes to me. “Sell it all and be done with it.”

  I pressed my lips together as I thought about it, but she continued.

  “Well, everything except the sentimental stuff. Believe me, whatever furniture you have, it isn’t worth moving it.”

  “Thanks, Mom. That’s good advice. But I still need to get estimates. It’ll make Clint feel better.”

  “Malarkey. He doesn’t care if you chuck your worldly possessions. He just wants you, and that, my dear, is the most important quality to find in a man.”

  I reached out and squeezed her hand. “You’re right, Mom.”

  She squeezed back, but not without getting the last word. “Of course, I’m right. I been around a while. About time you started listening to me.”

  I tilted my head back to give the ceiling an exasperated look. Then I leveled my eyes at her again. “Are you set? Do you want the walker out here?”

  Her eyes slid to the side and back. When she spoke her tone was begrudging. “That would be nice, my dear.”

  WHEN MY STOMACH GROWLED, my brain swam with numbers. A notification hit my phone, and I saw it was a quarter to noon. It surprised me that Mom hadn’t shuffled in to tell me what she wanted to eat. I looked into the living room and saw she was dozing off in her chair. Quietly, I turned back and perused the fridge for lunch options.

  While I assembled sandwiches, Clint came in through the side door. My hopes that he had brought lunch were dashed since he held his phone to his ear and his other hand was empty. He winked at me in greeting, and I grinned.

  I grabbed another plate and more bread. Once he was off the phone, I asked, “We’re having ham and cheese. Are you up for that, or do you need something more high falooting?”

  He leaned a hip against the counter and shot me a look. “Since when am I ever ‘high falooting,’ Rae?”

  I scoffed. “Clint, you are the biggest foodie I’ve ever known!”

  He smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Never knew you thought that about me.”

  “Baloney! I told you all the time.”

  He shrugged. “Must’ve blocked that out. Anyway, I like good food, but any sandwich you make will be great because you made it for me.”

  I blew out a breath shaking my head at him. “You do know how to butter a woman up.”

  His cell rang, he glanced at it, and he pushed away from the counter. “Hey Er—”

  That clipped greeting got my attention. He stood statue-stiff and his facial expression was hard as nails. “Yeah, Carlos. Where’s Erica and what’s wrong?”

  My stomach dropped and I went to grab my purse for my phone.

  “Fuck,” Clint hissed. “Call 911. Do it right now. I’ll get there as soon as I can, but you’re wasting time. Call 911.”

  He jammed his finger against the cell screen. I moved toward him. “Do you need me to call Juanita or anyone?”

  His eyes focused on me as though he’d forgotten where he was. “No. Not yet, baby. I don’t know enough, and I don’t want to worry her. I gotta get downtown.”

  He grabbed the back of my neck, kissed my forehead and jogged to the front door. I followed him, but he slammed the door behind him.

  Then I heard it.

  No, not it.

  I heard them.

  Gunshots.

  Three shots rang out and I ran to the front door, but Mom yelled at me. “Raegan Anne! You stay inside this house.”

  I stopped and had enough presence of mind to reach for my cell in my purse. But before I could get the phone out, the door flew open and Carlos stood there, a devious but satisfied grin on his ugly face.

  “Never liked the saying before now, but two birds with one stone,” he said.

  Then I heard another gunshot and he pitched forward, falling onto the floor. Jason, the huge man who worked for Tommy Debenedetti, stood there with a gun in hand.

  He looked me up and down. “You good?”

  I nodded. Then croaked, “Clint.”

  I stepped forward, but he held a hand up. “Stop. Stay in the house. We’ve called 911, and Phil’s putting pressure on his wounds.”

  My vision swam while my heart sank like a brick. “Wounds?”

  “Keep it together, Connelly,” he muttered, like I was one of the guys.

  “I can keep pressure on—”

  His chin jerked down at Carlos. “This asshole might not be the only threat. Contract for your hit became a bounty yesterday afternoon. Stay in the house, and don’t go near the windows.”

  Then he was gone.

  My nose stung, and tears fell from my face in a steady stream. Then I heard Mom’s whispered, “Clint’s been shot.”

  In the past month I hadn’t seen Mom stoop, but she leaned so heavily on the walker she was hunched over it. I moved to her and she let go of it to give me the tightest hug imaginable.

  Sirens rent the air, and I had perverse visions of Mr. Hipps complaining again.

  Those thoughts were cut off when I realized my shirt was soaked from not my tears, but Mom’s tears. I squeezed her to get her attention. “It’s gonna be okay, Mom.”

  She pulled back and glared at me. “Three gunshots, and you want to tell me it’s gonna be okay?”

  My lip quivered and I clenched my teeth to make it stop. “Listen, Mom. We don’t know that all three hit him.”

  “Tommy’s man said, ‘wounds,’ Rae.”

  My argument fell by the wayside when two paramedics stood in the doorway. “We’re going to examine him.” He gestured at Carlos.

  “Please do,” Mom said, all haughty. Had circumstances been different, I’d have found it funny, but it just wasn’t.

  I heard the two of them murmuring to one another and declaring Carlos dead. They didn’t move him any further and then I realized they wouldn’t be able to move him until the crime scene investigators arrived.

  “Where are they going?” Mom whispered.

  “Let’s go to the living room, Mom.”

  “No,” she said firmly. “I want to know about Clint.”

  Uniformed police officers came to the door. “Is one of you the owner of the house?”

  “I am, Penny Connelly.”

  “We have to secure the scene. Is there another way for you exit the house?”

  I nodded. “I’ll take her out through the side door of the house.”

  AS WE SAT IN THE HOSPITAL waiting room, I couldn’t say who was leaning on me more, Mom or Juanita. Laura sat with Erica, who blamed herself for everything. Of course, Juanita flying off the handle didn’t help matters. I tried to tell them they needed to pull together at a time like this, but I couldn’t get a word in edgewise, and when they argued in Spanish, I really couldn’t cut in.

  Brock and Gabe were standing sentry over us, wearing grim expressions.

  A door opened and a doctor wearing scrubs and a bandana over his head called out, “Ramsey?”

  Mom sat back, while Ju
anita and I stood. He came closer. “You’re next of kin?”

  Juanita nodded. “His mother.”

  The doctor smiled wanly. “Your son is very lucky. Two of the three wounds were flesh wounds, and only one bullet lodged itself in his shoulder. We removed it and after physical therapy, he should make a full recovery. However, he’s not entirely out of the woods. He lost quite a bit of blood; we had to give him a transfusion. We will be monitoring him for infection and blood clots.”

  “Can we see him?” she asked.

  He gave a curt nod. “One of you can. He’s not awake yet, but he’s in recovery.”

  Juanita tried to push me forward, but I shook my head.

  “You go. He’s not even awake.”

  She leveled a motherly look at me. “He wakes up and you aren’t there, he won’t be happy.”

  I nodded, and followed the doctor.

  Seeing Clint, my first thought was how pale he looked. Pale didn’t look good on him. Yet, I knew things could’ve ended much worse for him, so I tamped down my inner freak-out.

  For some reason a song Mom used to sing to me and Wynnie popped in my head, and I started humming “You Got the Silver.” Once I settled in my chair, I grabbed his hand and relief swept through me, feeling its warmth.

  I heard him clear his throat. “You look like I feel, mamita.”

  My humming stopped, my eyes flew to his, and a shaky grin split my lips. “Oh my God! Don’t speak. And I promise I’m not going to sing No Doubt right now but let me get you an ice chip or something.”

  Frantically, I looked around for a pitcher but didn’t see one. I let go of his hand and stepped into the corridor looking for a nurse.

  The expression on my face must have been something, because the first woman I saw knew something was up.

  “He’s awake, but he needs something for his throat.”

  Her reassuring smile settled me, a little. “I’ll be right there.”

  The nurse came back with a pitcher and a Styrofoam cup. “I’m glad to see you’re awake, Clint. We’ll move you to another room soon.”

  He made a grunting sound, but I squeezed his hand. “They’re going to take good care of you, honey.”