Chapter Twenty-One
Twenty-One
Justin
The post-sex euphoria had worn off, but as we lay in the dark, something even more intimate took its place as she told me her story. Our flesh wasn’t the only thing naked in that moment as she finally told me everything—every single thing I knew she’d been holding back. Things I was pretty sure she hadn’t told another soul.
The fucker was married with children. I couldn’t wrap my head around what kind of man did that to not one, but two women. Not to mention the kids. What a piece of shit. But did that make him dangerous? In my experience, I knew anything was possible, especially if things in his life had taken a turn. The wife could’ve found out about his infidelity and left his sorry ass. He could’ve gotten himself fired and lost his shit, and now wanted some kind of twisted revenge. Who knew?
My mind was ticking through the possibilities as I traced my fingertips down her spine to the dip in her lower back, then back up. “Did you talk to him again?”
She nodded against my chest. “He found me at the studio when I was dropping off the engagement ring and we had a pretty bad fight. He said some awful things... things I never imagined he could say.” Her voice became low and steeped in emotion.
“What kind of things?” When she didn’t answer me, I gently tipped her chin up until she met my gaze. “Olivia. What kind of things?”
“He blamed me for everything. Said his wife was suspicious and that she was threatening to leave him... can you believe that?” She sucked in a breath and barreled ahead. “He screamed and threw things around the studio, saying he refused to lose everything because of me. He said I was a mistake, that he never loved me. That he could never love our bastard...” When she tried to look away, I held her head in my grip. I needed to know, and she needed to share this burden. “He hoped we both died a painful, miserable death.”
“Jesus!”
Tears overflowed her lids and began to course down her cheeks. “He hadn’t gotten my messages. He had no idea I’d just been in the hospital and how much his words hurt.” She swiped angrily at her tears. “I was coming over there to tell him everything was okay with the baby. I wanted to ask him why he hadn’t answered my calls, but I was still hoping we could celebrate—” Her words were lost to a cry.
I collected her close to my chest and cupped her head in my hand. “It’s okay,” I reassured her. “It’s okay now. I’ve got you.”
I held her while she cried it out, then as she got it together. No wonder she’d fled home to Texas and given up her career with the ballet company to start her own studio. She’d healed, then found a new dream as a mother despite what that asshole had done to her. She hadn’t caved in on herself and given in to the darkness or put her own needs ahead of her child. No. She’d taken the hand life dealt her and made the best of it, rising like a phoenix, reborn from the ashes, stronger and more beautiful than before.
Olivia Creed had to be the strongest woman I’d ever known, and I was in awe of her.
I also knew it was time to come clean with her.
“Olivia?” I slid my hand up her side, then back down to her waist.
“Yeah?”
“I need to tell you something.”
She froze, everything in her going still like she was expecting me to tell her I was dying or something.
I used a finger to tilt her chin up so she faced me. “It’s probably not what you’re thinking.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“Because you’re stiff as a board.”
“As long as you don’t tell me you’re still married or have some secret family tucked away somewhere, I think we’re good.”
I blinked, digesting that in light of the emotions that had just rocked me to my core a few minutes ago. Did she really think so little of me, or had she just been hurt that badly before?
She seemed to sense my darkening mood, so she shifted in my arms. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean... that was uncalled for. Old pain dies hard. What is it?”
I could understand that. “Remember when my truck got pelted with manure?”
She frowned, clearly confused why I was bringing that up. “Yeah.”
“That’s not all there was.”
“What do you mean?”
I bit the bullet, holding her close. “There was a note tied to a rock. It was meant for me, but it was clearly from the same person who’s been harassing you.”
“A note?”
I nodded.
“What did it say?”
“That I couldn’t protect you.” I rubbed a reassuring hand up and down her arm. “It was a scare tactic, and an amateur one at that. Obviously, they know I’m here, and it pisses them off that they can’t mess with you anymore so they wanted to do something and that was the best they could come up with.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Honestly? At the time, I didn’t see the need. There were no real clues to follow with nothing on the cameras, and I didn’t want to alarm you when it was only meant to try and intimidate me. Which it did not.”
“You should have told me, Justin. This affects me too, you know.”
She was absolutely right. I knew it then, but I’d ignored my better instincts. But now that I’d had a taste of her? Been inside her body and touched her heart? It was clear as glass I had no business lying to this woman.
“I know. I’m sorry. That’s why I’m telling you now.”
She studied my face for a long moment, indecision skating over her features. “Anything else?”
“What? No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
She took a breath and settled back into my chest. “Okay.”
I was forgiven? Just like that? She’d been through so much, I knew she could’ve easily gone off the rails and thrown a fit, tossed me out on my ass, and decided never to trust me again. I’d certainly been leery of trust after being burned. But she was giving me grace. She really was the best woman I knew.
After a few moments of silence, she drew back to smile shyly up at me. “Regrets?”
I should have a million, but I couldn’t think of any. Here, now, it felt too right. “Other than not telling you about that note? None.”
Her eyes sparkled with delight at my answer. “Not even how unprofessional it is that we’ve seen each other naked now?”
I slid my hand down to grab a handful of her ass. “Especially not that.”
She giggled, and I have to say, I loved the sound coming from her lips after the heaviness of the last few minutes. “Glad to hear that, Mr. Hottie Pants.”
I took that handful and scooped her up, rolling to pull her on top of me in one swift movement so she was straddling me on my back and looking down on me with a surprised smile. That smile fell as I rocked my now hard cock against her core, making her groan. “Does that make you Miss Hottie Pants?”
Instead of answering, she leaned down to kiss me, sliding her wetness along my length as her tongue slid along mine.
God, what she did to me.
Things were slower this time, still intense, but something darker and deeper pulsed between us as she rode me with our hands intertwined in a tight hold, our eyes locked on each other.
I had no idea what was happening, I didn’t want to think too hard or try to put words to something that was unnamable. For once, I decided to just roll with the wave of sensation that coursed over me, seeming to fill us both as we thrust and pumped and kissed until we reached our peak together, her soft cry filling the air as I emptied myself into her.
She collapsed onto my chest, and I held her close, letting my hands trail along her back.
Nothing had ever felt like this with Tricia—my high school sweetheart and my wife. Not even close. And that was a real mindfuck. I wasn’t even sure which way was up anymore where Olivia was concerned. All I knew was the need to be near her and protect her was so much more than a paycheck to me at this point. It had been for a while now, I just didn’t want to admit it.
A few minutes later, she pressed a kiss to my chest, then turned to look up at me with sexy, sated eyes. “So, I don’t want to presume, but does this mean you’re moving back in or...?”
“Or?”
She shrugged. “Or... I don’t know. This is all new territory for me.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Me, too.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, actually.”
“What, that I haven’t slept with other clients?”
“Yes.” She laid her head back down and began to trace my tattoo in the dark. “I mean, it’s none of my business if you have, but—”
“No, never. I’ve steered one hundred percent clear of any entanglements. Until you.”
“Why make an exception for me?”
I heard the vulnerability in her voice, and I knew I could break her. It was also clear to me now how much damage this Christoph had already done so I knew how much she was trusting me with. “Honestly? I really don’t know. It’s not like women haven’t offered before. I just haven’t been tempted enough to cross that line. But with you... You’re just so damn perfect.”
She scoffed. “I am far from perfect.”
“Perfect to me.” Perfect for me, my mind screamed. “Beautiful, inside and out. Sweet and smart. A great mom. But more than that, there’s just something about you that calls to me.” I ran my fingertip over the delicate Hebrew symbol tattooed on her hip. “It’s like my soul knows your soul.”
I have no idea where the words came from. It was like someone else took over my body because I never spoke like that. I wasn’t some Romeo who waxed poetic with fancy ideas about beauty and souls. Still, I had come to understand that it was the truth and she deserved to know.
Her eyes were shiny with glistening tears as she gave me the sweetest of smiles just before she leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss. “Same.”
That night aftershe found me outside in my truck, I spent the night in her bed, making her come as many times as I could until she was putty in my hands and fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. We slept in on Saturday morning and I did move back in. Though moving in really meant tossing my duffel bags of stuff back into her spare room from my truck and remaking my guest bed—though I had a sneaking suspicion I might be spending more time in hers than mine now that we’d had a taste of what it felt like to be together. I’d never push her though. I fully understood she had a child to consider, and I couldn’t be her priority.
I had no idea what would, or could, come of all of this, but I was willing to see it through. I had at least until the case was over, which was as good of an excuse as any to stick around and touch her more, and I’d take it for now.
After a quick shower, I found her in the kitchen, back in that sexy silk robe, at the stove. I sidled up behind her and tucked my nose into the sensitive flesh between her jaw and ear, inhaling deeply. “Smells good in here.”
She leaned back into me. “Mmm . . . hungry?”
I cupped her hip in my hand as I kissed her throat. “Starved.”
“You’re insatiable.”
“You have no fucking idea.”
She was smiling when she turned toward me, lifting a spoon toward my mouth. “Taste, Hottie Pants.”
“That’s Mr. Hottie Pants to you.” But I obeyed and took a bite. “Delicious. What is it?”
“The start of a tomato sauce for our dinner tonight.”
“You’re starting dinner now?” I peeked over her shoulder into the slowly simmering pot and inhaled what was obviously going to be an amazing herb-filled sauce.
She turned back to stir in some basil leaves. “I am. I learned this recipe for Fettuccini Pomodoro while I was in Italy, and I fell in love with it.” She leaned back into my chest. “Since we have tonight to ourselves, I wanted to do something nice.”
Well, damn. Other than when I went home for Thanksgiving two years ago, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a woman prepare a home-cooked meal for me. Tricia wasn’t much of a cook, so dinners back then typically consisted of store-bought frozen meals, Hamburger Helper, or I grilled. Not that I’m hard to please—MREs on the battlefield made me pretty fucking happy to eat anything on a dining room table with someone who didn’t stand to piss.
Olivia put the lid on the pot and turned to look up at me with soft, inquisitive eyes. “Is that okay? Would you rather go out? Or did you have other plans?”
I cupped her hip. “Other plans? I’m with you like white on rice, remember?” I leaned down and nuzzled my nose along the side of hers. “And no, I don’t want to go out. This is perfect. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in ages. Much less one this nice.”
Her hands wound around my neck as she leaned into me. “Really?”
“Really. Thank you for going to all this trouble.” I whispered a kiss along her cheekbone, then another on her temple. “It’s sweet.”
I felt her smile. “It’s no trouble. It’s dinner.”
“Well, still...” I tugged her away from the stove and picked her up so she was perched on the countertop.
She automatically opened up and embraced me between her thighs, winding her arms around my neck as I leaned in to scent her throat, then ran my tongue and teeth along her collarbone. She let out a dreamy sigh, letting her head fall back, opening to me fully as I ravished her neck and upper chest, my hands deftly finding the tie at her waist. It easily came undone, and the robe slid open, where I found her naked underneath.
“Damn, baby,” I groaned against her flesh just before I took a taut nipple into my mouth.
She gasped and forked her fingers through my hair to hold me tight in place, arching her back to offer me more.
And I did, gorging on both breasts and nipples until she was whimpering my name, begging wordlessly. I glanced up at her flushed face. The way her eyes were closed in pleasure, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as if she was trying not to cry out... she was like a goddess, and I was undone.
Wrecked for this woman, I reached down and spread her thighs farther apart.
Her eyes shot open to meet mine as I caressed her with first one finger, then two. She bucked against me, silently asking for more, so I buried them deep, making her moan and clutch at my shoulders. “Oh... fuck.”
“You like?” I gritted, adding my thumb to circle her clit.
She made a low groan that I took as a yes, then I leaned down to take a nipple back into my mouth as I pumped harder into her.
Her groans became mews and she smacked her head on the cabinet. “Justin... please... more...” She was begging. “I need you.” Her hips gyrated on my hand, but her eyes pleaded with me for my cock.
I pulled my fingers out and scooped her off the counter. I held her up while she gained her bearings on wobbly feet, licking my fingers clean as she watched with lusty eyes. Before she could say a word, I led her two steps to the dining table, loving how her silky robe was falling off her shoulders and she didn’t seem to notice or care.
I spun her around until she faced the table and bent her over, placing her hands on the tabletop, lacing mine over hers, so I was bent over her. “You want me?” I gritted in her ear.
She turned to look at me over her shoulder. “Please.”
“I’m all yours, baby.”
I slid her robe up to showcase her perfect little ass as I undid my jeans and let my cock free, pumping it a few times in my hand as I took her in like this, bent over for me. I ran a hand up her spine to grip her hair. “You are so beautiful. I can’t believe I get to touch you like this.”
She wiggled impatiently. “Justin, please,” she whispered.
I wasted no more time. I sank home in one deep, hard thrust, burying myself balls deep, making us both cry out. She gripped the table and dropped her head as I grabbed her hips with a fierce hold. I slowly pulled out, then pushed back in, savoring the feel of her, but she pressed herself backward.
“Don’t be gentle,” she begged. “You make me forget everything but you.”
Something in my chest cracked at her words. She’d been through so much—hell, I’d been through so much. Maybe that’s why it felt like our souls recognized each other. It was our pain that connected us. And our coming together like this was fated. It was healing us. And I wanted nothing more than to help her forget.
I leaned down and planted a kiss between her shoulder blades. “Hang on, baby.”
She turned her head to the side so I could see her bite her lip as she nodded.
Then I began to thrust and pound and pour every bit of energy I had into trying to purge the ugliness from both of us. She gave as good as she got, writhing and moaning and letting me know I was all she could feel. When I reached around and found her clit, she broke free with a quivering cry, my name on her lips, and I’d swear in that moment, I forgot too.
The rest ofthat day and night felt like the best date ever. For brief pockets of time, it was like I had amnesia to the fact that I was being paid to be there or that we were anything other than young lovers getting to know each other.
After a quick call to her folks to check on Elizabeth, who was having a great time being spoiled by the grandparents, I tried my hand at KP duty. Olivia laughed at my attempts to cook lunch for her while her sauce simmered on the stove, but we survived my hot ham and cheese sandwiches.
“Did you want to go do anything today?” I asked.
“Like what?”
I shrugged. “What would you normally do with a day to yourself without Elizabeth?”
“Honestly? I’ve never really had one that wasn’t because I already had something planned like an event for the studio.” She sat back with smiling eyes. “I kind of like the idea of doing a whole lot of nothing.”
“Nothing?”
Her cheeks blossomed pink. “Well, maybe not nothing. But nothing outside of the house.” She lifted her foot to my thigh, giving me an enticing view of her long ivory leg. “You know... eat, sleep, shower, watch movies, other stuff...”
“Other stuff,” I echoed. “Hopefully that doesn’t involve you in clothes?”
She giggled. “None of that has to involve clothes, if you think about it.”
I barked out a laugh. “True. I think I like your idea.”
“Yeah?”
I leaned over until my lips were an inch from hers. “Yeah.” I brushed a kiss to her mouth, loving how naturally she responded to me. “Let’s do it.”
“Let’s do it,” she whispered back between kisses.