Chapter 14
Val
I wonder if I had told him to strip all the way down if he would have?
Seeing him without his shirt on lit a fire in my belly that a shot of the smoothest tequila doesn’t quench.
How much longer can I toy with him before I make him beg for me?
He’s so quick to please. The heavy-lidded stare he gave me when he fell to the floor left very little to the imagination of just how hungry he is.
Picturing him naked and on his knees is a pleasant distraction from the underlying stress Halloween gives me every year.
It was six years ago today that everything changed for me.
My best friend was brutally killed while my husband was one of the monsters involved.
Yes, it’s much more fun to think about how I want to ravage poor Sawyer.
Make him whine and moan with need.
Watching his white wings twist through the crowd with the subtle confidence of an elite athlete, it makes it hard to breathe seeing other women turn to stare.
Maybe I should have marked him as mine.
Ran my nails over his tanned skin. A giant “V” over the muscles of his back so there would be no doubt who he belongs—
Whew. That makes me step back.
I don’t want ownership. No relationships, that’s a firm rule.
“Can I get another Long Island iced tea?” Sophia saddles up to the bar, her oversized foam hat bouncing with the movement. “And whatever Wade is drinking. He gets all worked up too easily.”
“Oh yea?” I start grabbing the liquor from the shelf. “What’s he all antsy about?”
I can’t see him past her ridiculously large costume.
Not that it matters much, I have shit to do. It’s probably his girl.
She is a spitfire. I’m sure she gives him a run for his money.
“Elena.” Sophia confirms my suspicions.
“Ah. Well, we could all see that coming,” I chuckle. That’s what he gets for hooking up with a criminal.
A flash of white catches my eye as Sawyer races by.
Who am I kidding, I’m always looking for him now.
It’s impossible not to.
But when I see him grab Wade by the arm, and they both take off running. That sends a chill of ice down my spine.
Sophia steps back to her table as Blue leaps off the stage.
“What the hell is going on?” I yell at him, but he pushes through the people too quickly to answer.
Sophia stays near Libby, so I bring her drink to her.
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” I hate the coil of dread that’s winding in my stomach.
“Sawyer just said he saw someone grab Elena and drag her out the back door.” Sophia takes the cold glass and wraps her lips around the straw to take a long swallow.
The knot inside me snaps as the memories flood me.
Blood stains from that night stayed on the concrete for weeks. A lasting reminder of where Sarah died.
“No, no, no. This can’t be happening.” Nausea tugs at my throat.
Not again.
I don’t want anyone hurt here.
Then Elena reappears and sits down next to Sophia. Her clothing is torn, and her eyes hollow, but otherwise doesn’t look injured.
“Oh my god! What happened? Are you okay?” Libby leans across the table in a cow costume, her sincerity a surprise after everything I know that has happened between them.
Elena gives a small nod. “Wade is taking care of it. It’s Max. He came out of nowhere.”
Fuck. I know that asshole.
He’s one of the men that were with Chris that night.
Holy shit. This could have ended so much worse.
Blue comes back next, his jaw set in a hard clench. “Wade’s got him taken care of. Billy’s packing him in the rig now.” He leans over and kisses Libby on the top of the head. “Everything’s under control now.”
I’m done. I can’t handle this anymore.
“Blue, can you make an announcement that we’re shutting down an hour early?” I try to look like I’m not too flustered, but inside I’m screaming.
His silver-tinged mustache twitches. “You bet, Val.” With a nimble jump, he hops on stage and moves to the microphone.
“Attention everyone. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the party has to end a little early. Thank y’all for being here. Happy Halloween!” He gives the room a charming, practiced smile, then climbs back down to stand next to Libby.
“Okay, baby. Let’s get you home to rest.” He presses his lips against her temple, wrapping his hand around her waist.
So freaking adorable.
I never thought Blue had it in him, but he’s turned out to be a pretty great husband to her.
Why can’t all guys be that way?
There’s too many like my ex, or the creep who attacked Elena.
A shudder runs through me.
Wade strides through the masses like a bulldozer, bee-lining directly for his girl.
After a few quiet words, they leave with the tide of bodies.
Only when everyone is gone do I take a deep breath and shakily slide into one of the stools by the bar.
I can’t believe it happened again. Just when I thought I had a solid hold on my anxieties, my feet get knocked out from under me.
I need a damn drink.
“Val?” Sawyer’s voice startles me. “Do you want me to clean everything up, or just come in early tomorrow to help?” He sets down a case of liquor, then leans against the counter a few seats away.
“No,” I say simply, then turn to him.
The fuck? His white wings are crumpled and dirty, his chest is scratched all to shit.
“What the hell happened to you?” In the chaos of the last half hour, I realize now I haven’t seen him since he darted away with Wade.
His mouth tilts with an apologetic half-smile.
“I tackled that guy down. But after Wade put him in the truck, I started shaking so went downstairs for a little bit.” He drops his gaze to look at the floor.
“I’m sorry. I’ve never gotten in a fight before.
” Those blue eyes raise and lock with mine. “I just didn’t want her to get hurt.”
Why do I have a sudden flare of jealousy like a vise around my throat?
“Do you like her?” I try to frame the question as neutral as possible, but it still comes out with a hint of venom.
When his forehead furrows, I already know the answer before he speaks.
“Not like that.” He shakes his head. “But I ain’t gonna stand by and watch someone get dragged off.”
It’s a strange feeling, this wave of heat that rushes through me. “You’re a hero.” He could be with any of those other girls who were checking him out. But he’s not. He’s here, with me.
Alone.
“I dunno about that.” That lower lip pouts out as he looks down.
He wipes at his chest leaving a smear of blood which he smears on the thigh of his jeans.
“Damn it, Sawyer,” I whisper. “Let me get you patched up before you go.”
“So you don’t want me to do the close up stuff?” He reaches up and runs his fingers through his unruly hair.
Geez, he lost his hat too?“No, Sawyer. I want you to sit. There.” I point at the stool as I round the end of the bar to dig out the first aid kit.
He drops his butt on the seat and swivels so he’s facing out with his arms draped across the edge when I come back around.
Setting the box on the padded spot next to him, I flip the top to pull out the alcohol wipes.
“This might sting.” I rip off the edge and unfold the tiny white square.
His knees are firmly together as I reach towards him making it so fucking awkward.
“Move these.” My palm pats his leg.
Twisting doesn’t offer much room either.
“Sawyer.” I let my voice drop as I let my hip press his thigh. “Do you want to do this yourself?”
His nostrils flare as his heavy-lidded eyes focus on where our bodies meet. “No.”
I flatten my hand and push my fingers between his tightly clenching muscles. “Then you have to let me in,” I whisper.
The sound of his nails scratching against the brass rail is the only indication of his hesitancy before he opens his knees.
Moving my hips to rest against the stool, I pop the clasp holding the broken wings. “Afraid I’m going to fuck you?” My cheek lifts with his sharp inhale as I lay the cold wipe against the oozing scrape.
“Val, I—” He stops to hiss another breath through his teeth when I press the stinging pad to a new spot.
“What? Never had a woman between your legs?” I can feel the tremor in his legs in his struggle to keep them from touching me.
A knot forms in his brow and his jaw clenches.
Is it from the pain? Or me?
Ah, the rising bulge of his groin answers that question before he gives a tiny shake of his head.
Maybe I’ll mess with him, just a little? Dropping the used wipe, I lean across his shaking thigh to pick a new one from the kit.
Tearing it slowly, I press forward just enough that my belly brushes his zipper.
His fingers spasm closed, two fists outstretched over his angel costume.
Light and dark is warring within him.
“I hate that Halloween always seems to make such horrible memories here.” Working my way down his heaving chest, I slowly clean the dried blood over his abs.
When I reach for a third pad, I let my palm grip his thigh so that my pinky brushes the stiff denim of his crotch.
“I mean—” I put the corner of the paper wrapper between my teeth and peel it open, savoring his eyes fixing on my mouth. “—wouldn’t it be nice to have a really good memory of tonight instead?”
Licking my lip, I start to dab around the dark hair framing his belly button. Not because it’s necessary.
Because I want to.
“Like what?” His voice cracks when I let my wrist stroke the very tip of his rigid groin, fully pretending to be cleaning.
I want to rip open his Wranglers and see what he’s hiding.
“Maybe we should start with a drink?” Lifting the swab, I let my hungry gaze work over his defined chest, the rippled abs, and the hollow “V” of his toned hips.
But when I start to turn, his legs lock around me.
“You missed a spot.” His husky tone verges on a growl.
Fire leaps through me with the iron grip of his thighs holding me so firmly.
Now he has me smiling.
“I’m out of these.” I wave the tiny pad before tossing it with the others. “Show me where.”
His arm lowers from the bar top, his eyes locked with mine as he points to a faint blemish at the peak of his ribs. “It hurts right there.”
The corner of his lower lip puckers between his teeth.
My tongue pushes out of my mouth to slowly drag my thumb over it before gently wiping the tiny smear away.
“Did I get it, or do you need me to kiss it and make it better?” I know what I want his answer to be.
His mouth falls into a crooked grin as his legs loosen slightly. “Is it wrong to say I have a sudden pain everywhere?”