Chapter 21
21
Dylan
M y heart stopped as Kayla charged towards Juliette. I couldn’t do anything to help her. I couldn’t let go of Leo.
Juliette’s eyes snapped to mine when I called her name, then, too damn slowly, she turned towards Kayla. I wanted to yell again for her to move, but what if it just distracted her? Juliette leapt to the side, but not far enough. Kayla shoved her and she fell back into the shelves. A blazing fury surged through my veins.
“Don’t fucking touch her!” I yelled as I yanked Leo’s arm higher, holding it just shy of dislocating his shoulder.
Kayla smirked at me before stepping closer to Juliette, leaning in to sneer in her face. “You. You’re ugly and pathetic. Must be the do-gooder in Dylan. Throw the loser a bone.” Kayla poked Juliette’s chest as she remained pressed against the shelves. Juliette’s eyes widened, but she made no attempt to move. Fuck. Was she hurt? I couldn’t stand here and watch anymore.
I released Leo’s arm and spun him around, my elbow already cocked back. The instant his face was in striking distance, I let go, all my rage exploding out in that one punch. He went down like the spineless bastard he was. I nudged him with my foot, ensuring that he wouldn’t be getting up to go after Juliette.
Kayla pushed Juliette again, then turned away from her, coming towards me. Thank fuck.
“No!” Juliette screamed. She threw herself into Kayla’s side and they both went flying. It felt like I was watching in slow motion, but they were falling too fast for me to catch Juliette. They landed with a loud crack, then the floor was wet. Fuck. Kayla had gotten ahold of a beer bottle.
“Get off me, bitch!” Kayla shrieked.
I wanted nothing more than to scoop Juliette up and carry her to safety, but my training was too ingrained. I couldn’t attend to her before securing the danger. Against every instinct, I left Juliette there and pulled Kayla up. I dragged her to the end of the aisle and, finally, now that it was mostly under control, the store owner came over. I handed her over to him with her arms held behind her back and ran to Juliette who was trying to stand up.
“Stop, baby. Let me help you. It’s wet and there’s broken glass everywhere.” I quickly scanned her body. No visible injuries. I crouched next to her and brushed her hair away to see her face. “Are you okay? Where do you hurt?”
“I’m okay. Just help me up,” Juliette said, her voice trembling.
I slid my arms around her and pulled her up, supporting her weight against my body. I held her close, furious that her usual coconut scent was replaced by the odor of beer.
“I’m okay,” Juliette said gently. When her eyes met mine, they were soft and clear. No sign of pain or fear. I’m glad one of us was okay, because every muscle in my body was still tense with the fear and anger coursing through me. “I’m okay, honey,” she reassured me again.
“I’m glad. But I’m not. I need to hold you.” I continued to hold her tightly against me for another moment, before I shifted my hands to her shoulders and gently stepped back so I could see her more clearly. When I was sure she was steady on her feet, I released her to run my hands up and down her body. “Does anything hurt?”
“No, I’m okay. Promise.” I pulled Juliette back into my arms.
I heard sirens approaching. There was nothing else I needed to do but wait. I looked back at the shelf where Kayla had pushed Juliette and saw the six-pack with the missing bottle right behind where they’d been standing. Thank God Kayla came after me with it and not Juliette.
“You’ll pay for this! You won’t get away with assaulting me and Leo!” Kayla was straining against the cashier and spewing threats at us.
I twisted my body so I could keep an eye on Kayla, but keep her out of sight for Juliette. “Shh,” I whispered against Juliette’s cheek. “I’ve got you now. They can’t do anything to us.”
Kayla had been a thorn in my side since before the divorce, but I’d never, in all our time together, seen her this unhinged. She had to be on something. Meth probably. Leo looked like trouble. He looked better unconscious on the floor.
A minute later three SAPD officers rushed in. I recognized two of them. “Officer Axton. Officer Roberts,” I greeted with chin lifts.
“Larke. What’s going on here?” Quint Axton asked, while his partners went to Kayla and Leo.
I quickly filled him in, grateful that it was an officer I’ve known professionally and personally for years.
After I said everything I needed to, he turned to Juliette and extended a hand to shake. “I’m Quint Axton, with the SAPD. It’s nice to meet you, Juliette.” I hated how Juliette’s hand trembled as she reached towards him. She wasn’t nearly as okay as she wanted me to think.
Quint’s radio crackled and announced the arrival of the paramedics.
After a brief argument with Juliette, she was loaded in the ambulance, and we were on our way to the hospital. I knew I only won the argument because Quint said it would help build a case against Kayla and Leo. An assault charge against Leo wouldn’t hold him for long, and there was nothing that would stick against Kayla, but I was going to throw everything I could at this.
Kayla and Leo were a threat to my woman.
When I’d first spotted Kayla tonight, I was worried she’d hurt Juliette with her words, but I never thought she’d be physically violent. But now… If there was anything I knew about my ex, it was that when she got an idea in her head, she latched on like a pit bull. The threats and hatred Kayla had spewed towards Juliette could not be taken lightly.
I quickly shot my arm out to grab my phone and turn off the alarm before it woke Juliette. I hated that I had to leave her today.
We were only at the hospital for a short time last night. Thankfully, Juliette hadn’t hit her head, and she was lucky to walk away with just a few bruises. The police took our full statement at the hospital, so when we were released, we were able to come straight home.
Juliette was incredible. She was clearly proud of herself for stopping Kayla from hitting me with that bottle. I was livid that she risked her safety for mine, but after seeing her fight back a smile as she told that part to the cops, my anger melted away, leaving only pride in its wake.
When we arrived back at my apartment, we showered together, and I washed the stench of beer and fear off of Juliette. I wanted to kiss and caress every inch of her body to reassure myself she really was okay, but she could barely keep her eyes open.
I dried us off and led her to bed. Juls fell asleep within seconds, her head nuzzled against my chest and our arms wrapped around each other, but I lay awake for hours, watching her and replaying the night over and over. Except in my head, Kayla hit Juliette with the bottle. Or slammed her head into the shelf. Or broke the bottle and cut her with it. As the hours wore on, the scenarios grew worse. Juliette’s warm body against mine and her steady breaths wafting on my chest were the only things that kept me sane. I wanted to fucking kill Leo and Kayla. Juliette was so precious. So fragile in some ways and so strong in other ways. She’d overcome so many obstacles already and I fucking hated that my baggage was threatening her safety.
I sighed as I looked at the time. I hated to wake Juliette, but unless I could convince her otherwise, she had to get up for work. She looked so beautiful in the glow of the morning sun, so peaceful sleeping with her head on my chest, her hand on my waist, and her leg wrapped around mine. I loved how she held onto me in her sleep. I kissed her gently all over her beautiful face, everywhere I could reach, while gliding my hand up and down her back.
Juliette blinked her eyes open, slowly coming awake, then tilted her head up and gifted me the most gorgeous smile. I had to blink back tears and swallow the ball of emotion in my throat before I could talk. “Good morning, beautiful.” My voice sounded hoarse and strained, even to my own ears.
She slid her hand up my chest and rested it against my face as her eyes searched mine. “Are you okay?” she asked in the softest whisper.
This girl. She’d been hurt and threatened by my ex-wife and her sleazeball boyfriend, and she was asking if I was okay. She was too good for me. “I’m great. I have everything I want right here in my arms.”
Juliette’s smile beamed even brighter as she rolled her hips against me. “Do we have a few minutes before we have to get up?”
“We can have a lot of time if you stay home today.”
“I need to go to work. There’s no reason to stay home.”
“You were assaulted last night. You were in the hospital.”
“I was barely assaulted. I was pushed. Then I was the one who knocked Kayla down. Anyway, you’re the one with a bruise on your face. I’m fine.”
“You’re amazing, Juls. I had no doubt you’d fight to protect me or yourself. But I really hate to hear you sound happy about what happened last night. I’m so furious you were in danger, I can’t even breathe at the thought of Kayla or Leo getting their hands on you when I’m not there.”
“I’m okay, Dylan, I promise. The police have our reports. They won’t get away with anything else.”
“We’re going to file for restraining orders, but that won’t stop them. I need you to promise me you’ll be careful. Avoid going anywhere by yourself for a little while. I’m going to call Beth today, too. Her husband, Sledge, is a firefighter at Station 7. She’s the one I told you about, the reason for the kickball game. She’s also a computer genius. If there’s any dirt that we can use against Kayla and Leo, she’ll find it.”
“I’m fine with that. I usually just go to work and back home anyway. You’re sure Beth won’t mind?”
“When I tell her they threatened you, I won’t be able to stop her. I may even have to rein her in.”
Juliette let out a small, warm laugh, lightening the cloud of tension pressing down on me. “Then I’ll be safe.” She smiled as she leaned in and planted her lips firmly against mine. “So…” she said, reaching her hand between us to palm my dick, which was already half hard, because I couldn’t help myself when she was sprawled over me, even with thoughts of last night swirling through my mind.
“I’ll take care of you, baby. I can’t say no to you. But you need to be quick if you insist on going to work.”
“I am going to work, but I’ll have no problem being quick. I need you.”
I couldn’t deny Juliette anything. I rolled her on to her back and made my way down her body, gripping the hem of my t-shirt that she was wearing, but her hands landed on mine, stopping me.
I snapped my head up to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I… Just… Can I leave it on?”
What the hell? She was never reluctant to be naked with me. Realization dawned, hot and furious. “I know you’re bruised, baby. I promise not to freak out.”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly, releasing my hands. Her uncertainty pissed me off. Was it worse than I imagined?
I gently lifted her shirt. “Fuck.” My heart clenched at the purple and black bruises marring her beautiful skin.
“You promised not to freak out.”
“I know. But look at you.”
“It looks worse than it feels. I have bruises all the time.”
I sure hoped it looked worse than it felt, because it looked awful. I knelt next to her and as softly as possible, I kissed the bruise spreading out over her hip.
“Roll over, baby,” I whispered through a tight throat.
She did, and I growled and bit back the curse that almost came out, because I’d made her a promise, but I couldn’t hold it all back.
“I’m fine.”
I ignored her because nothing about this was fine, and continued kissing the bruise spanning across her back where Kayla had pushed her into the shelf.
Juliette rolled back over and grabbed my dick. “Forget about it. I need you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Stop it! I’m not going to break! I’ve fallen before and walked into shelves before for no reason at all. Please, Dylan.”
This wasn’t even close to the same, but I couldn’t deny her. I reached down, ensuring she was ready for me, finding a small measure of peace at how wet she was.
I put on a condom and slid into Juliette, swallowing her moan. I rocked in and out, slow and steady. I sucked her nipple into my mouth, and even when she dug her heels into my ass, begging for more, I didn’t go any harder. I refused to do anything that might cause her pain.
“More,” she groaned
“Easy, baby,” I soothed.
“No! Fuck me, Dylan!” Juliette planted her feet on the bed and grabbed my arms, her nails biting into my biceps, and she rocked into me, thrusting her hips hard and fast. Withdrawing. Thrusting. Using every ounce of leverage and force she could.
“Dylan! I…yes! More, please!” she yelled, her words fading into indiscernible moans.
Fuck. Juliette using her body and her words, making demands, taking what she wanted, it was…everything.
I pulled back and slammed into her.
She shrieked. I did it again. And again.
Juliette arched her body, threw her head back, and with a soulful moan, she took me over the edge with her. Nothing turned me on more than watching Juliette fall apart. I collapsed next to her, rolling her onto me. “So beautiful,” I murmured into the curve of her neck.