Chapter Eighteen
REVEALING HER SHAMEFUL truth to Ty, after all he’d done for her, caused a physical ache in her chest. He mentioned how he’d built his business from the ground up as a young man and worked so hard for two decades to become the most successful tire supplier in the area. With a few well-played chess moves, her father and brother threatened to wipe away his plans for the future. And they’d gotten his ex involved.
The man should run from her as fast as possible.
Her heart hung heavier in her chest than it had in years. “I should go,” she said as she tried to climb off his lap.
“Whoa, hold on. You’re not going anywhere.” He clamped his hands on her thighs, trapping her in place. “What the hell are you talking about?”
God, he was going to make her spell out all the appalling details. She shook her head.
“Tell me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” He was so strong and warm beneath her. All she wanted to do was lean in and let him hold her against that strong chest. Maybe then she could pretend the real world wasn’t knocking at her door with a ticking bomb.
“Hey.” He squeezed her legs firmly but gently. “You’re not responsible for your family’s sins.”
“Maybe not, but me being here has led them straight to you.”
“Baby, just tell me what the fuck they’ve done.”
“My brother came to see me the other day.”
“Your brother?” Ty frowned.
“Yes. He showed up when I was with the girls. I told them who he was. I’m surprised no one told you.”
Ty half laughed, half grunted as he rolled his eyes. “Fucking Jinx.”
“What?” Kelsie frowned. She was missing something here.
Shaking his head, Ty said, “Jinx texted me to tell me someone showed up to talk to you. He made a point to mention he was hot.”
“Ew.” She wrinkled her nose. “Why would he do that.”
“To fuck with me. It’s what Jinx does best. Forget that asshole. Tell me what happened.”
“Um, okay. Well, my brother came to tell me, order me, to return home. My father wants me back home. I refused, and he made some vague threats against the club. He has to be the one Trina talked about who wants to buy the building you’re negotiating to purchase.”
“Fuck that for right now. Why do they want you back?”
God, how she didn’t want to say this. Tyler would flip his shit. “They want to control me, and they’ve found the perfect way to do it. I’d do anything to keep them from hurting you, Ty. Even go back. And they know it.”
He narrowed his eyes as he slid his hand back, filling them with her ass. After a sensual squeeze—dirty trick—he said, “Nice avoidance of my actual question. Why do they want you back? Specifically.”
“My father has aspirations to run for political office.” She chuckled without mirth. “Even on house arrest, he’s still trying to take over the world. And, uh, he’s been flirting with various powerful politicians, hoping to get a strong backing. There’s one in particular he wants. Someone he’s willing to sell his soul for.”
“Who?”
“Cameron Tinsley.”
Ty’s eyes flared. “The Speaker of the House? That guy is crooked as fuck.”
“Yeah, well, so is dear ol’ dad.”
“I’m not following what this has to do with you.”
“Tinsley has agreed to put his considerable weight and wallet behind my father’s senate race for governor. Hell, I don’t even remember what position he covets, but Tinsley has agreed to back him if…”
“If…” He nearly snarled the word.
Fuck.
“I marry his son. Um, the son has a terrible public reputation that is beginning to hurt his father politically. Cameron will join my father’s team if they can marry him off to a ‘nice girl’ and clean up his image.”
“His son?” Ty frowned, then went completely rigid beneath her, but not in the way she’d have preferred. “Wait one fucking second. Cameron Tinsley’s son is Andrew Tinsley.”
Here it comes.
His hands tightened on her ass. “They want you to marry Andrew-fucking-Tinsley? Over my dead body. That guy was arrested only a few months ago for a domestic altercation. He beat his girlfriend bloody. And if I’m not wrong, it wasn’t the first time he’s been in trouble with the law for pounding on his women.”
Her stomach twisted. “Yes,” she whispered. “Hence the bad reputation. My brother called a few weeks ago to tell me the plan he and my father concocted to bring me back into the family fold and marry me off, and I—”
“A few weeks ago?” His eyes spit fire and had her brother or father been in the room, he’d have no doubt torn them apart. “That’s why you ended up in the hospital, right? That’s why you hurt yourself.”
Shame washed over her, hot and sharp. “Yes,” she said in barely a whisper. “Lorenzo told me they knew where I was. That this wasn’t an offer. I was coming home, and I would be marrying Andrew Tinsley. He claimed they’d let me ‘tantrum long enough’ as he put it. It was time for me to grow up and do my part.”
“Motherfuckers.”
“It sent me spiraling. I was so frozen with fear I couldn’t eat or drink. I didn’t leave my bed for days. I was… not good. The thought of marrying a man like that, of having him touch me, made me have horrendous flashbacks. I tried every trick I’d learned to ground myself and bring myself back to reality. Nothing worked. It was so bad. I could see my life playing out before me being used and abused by Andrew Tinsley. I became so desperate to feel something that I grabbed the knife.” She shrugged. “And you know the rest.”
“Jesus, Kels.”
“I didn’t want to die.”
He hugged her to his chest. “I know, baby.” They stayed that way until his need to know the rest couldn’t be ignored any longer. He loosened his arms, and she sat straight once again. “So, what? Your brother appeared yesterday to tell you that time’s up.”
Kelsie nodded. “Something like that. He made some idle threats, too, which I assume he’s carrying out by targeting your business first. I have no doubt the longer I resist, the more he’ll mess with your club. Maybe I should just—”
His arms circled her, and he dragged her against his chest again, this time with a vise hold. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence. There is no way you’re going back to your father, and there’s no fucking way you’re getting within ten miles of that abusive piece of trash. We won’t let this happen, Kels. I won’t let this happen.”
“Ty, you need to focus on saving your business, not on me.”
“Kelsie.” His voice brokered no argument. “I will keep you safe. Promise it on my fucking life.”
Her head rested on his chest with the steady thump of his heart beneath her ear, settling her. He was warm and strong, rubbing his large hand up and down her back in a soothing caress. She closed her eyes and breathed, allowing herself to soak up the safety his arms provided. Unlike when Lorenzo called her to reveal his devious plan, she didn’t have the ominous sensation of the ground opening up and swallowing her whole.
“Tell me you believe me.”
“I do.”
“No.” He loosened his arms and tugged the back of her hair. “Look me in the eye and tell me you believe I will not let him get near you.”
She straightened and met his gaze. The fierce promise in his eyes had butterflies dancing through her stomach and a ripple of excitement racing up her spine. The mountain of pressure and tension she’d been struggling under for the past month evaporated. Ty wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. She fully believed it. “I do,” she said, making her voice strong. “I believe you, Ty. And I trust you. More than anyone, maybe ever.”
His cock hardened beneath her, notching against her sex. The only thing separating them was the thin layer of her panties. Suddenly, that barrier became intolerable. She had to have and feel him inside her. She wanted them to seal this promise of protection with their bodies.
“Ty…” His name came out as a plea. Anything else she would have said died in her throat at the intense desire in his eyes.
“I know.” He grabbed the back of her head and crashed their mouths together.
Kelsie squeaked as their lips met. Within seconds, she was drunk on him. Her head spun, and she could have floated to the clouds. But Ty kept her anchored to the real world with a firm hold on her ass and a hard cock grinding into her sex.
His taste, smell, and feel overwhelmed her senses. All she could do was clutch his shoulders and let him ravage her mouth with his hungry lips and tongue. He took full advantage of her pliancy, nipping at her lips and stroking his tongue against hers in the way she wanted him to stroke deep inside her.
She rocked against him, drawing a tortured groan that had her grinning against his mouth.
“Minx,” he whispered, making her giggle.
They stared at each other, heat and desire swirling between them. Kelsie bit her lower lip and nodded. Green light granted.
“You sure?”
“Yes,” she answered. “So sure. Please, Ty. I want you. I need you.”
He stood without warning, hoisting her up by her ass. Kelsie squeaked as she wrapped her legs around his waist and hooked her ankles to secure her in place. He kissed her again, quick and hard, before carrying her to his bedroom, where he went straight to the bed.
He didn’t toss her but lay her carefully in the middle of the mattress, coming down right on top of her. The way he took care of her made her insides melt. Somehow, he managed it without making her feel lacking for her inability to handle anything rough yet. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind he’d stop the second she asked, but she also didn’t have an ounce of fear with him. He seemed to instinctively know what she could and couldn’t handle.
They kissed for what felt like hours, grinding and soaking up the glorious sensations of being together. His hands roamed her body, eliciting goose bumps and shivers. Every time he found a spot that made her gasp or tremble, he spent extra time there, driving her wild.
“Ty,” she said after he sucked on the pulse point of her neck until she was panting. “I need more. I need you to touch me more. Help me get this shirt off.”
He leaned back and studied her but didn’t ask whether she was sure. It meant so much that he trusted she knew what she wanted. This was night and day from the traumatic experience she’d had when kidnapped. Ty deserved a reward for his care of her physical and emotional well-being.
They worked together to shimmy his shirt up her body and over her head. It landed somewhere on the floor. Later, she’d have to search for it because that shirt was her property now. For good measure, she wriggled out of her panties as well. They were nearly soaked through with evidence of her desire for this man. As she brought her legs back down to the mattress, he widened her thighs so they were on either side of him. Before she had a chance to send the panties flying off the bed, Ty caught her hand and brought it to his face, where he inhaled the scent of her wetness.
“Like a fucking drug,” he whispered, which stole her breath and made her sex clench.
Kelsie blew out a shaky breath as she lay back against the mattress and let him look his fill. His dark, hungry gaze roamed over every exposed inch of her. She’d never wanted someone like she did Ty, with her whole body, head, and heart. They’d be stupid to rush things, but she wanted him inside her so badly she ached.
“Ty,” she practically whined as her nipples hardened to needy peaks. She wanted to close her legs and find some ease for the throbbing between them, but Ty held her thighs wide.
“So pretty,” he said, his gaze on her pussy. “So wet.”
Oh my God.
“And soon to be so full of my cock.”
Kelsie whimpered. No one had ever spoken to her this way before with such reverence and want.
“You want that?” he asked, his face a mask of control and concentration.
“You know I do.” She squirmed on the bed. Her breasts were heavy, and her nipples were uncomfortable. They needed to be touched. She moved a hand toward her breast only to have it captured by Ty’s much larger hand.
“Nuh-uh,” he tutted with a sly grin. “Those are my toys.” Then he kissed her knuckles and set her hand back at her side. But he didn’t leave her wanting for long. He leaned forward and licked a path up her chest between her breasts.
Kelsie sucked in a harsh breath. “Please, Ty,” she whispered. “It’s too much.”
“Shh, I got you, baby.” He soothed her by dragging his tongue across her nipple before sucking it into his warm mouth.
Kelsie arched off the bed with a soft cry. Her head swam with pleasure as he moved to her other breast, giving it the same attention. She sifted her hands through his hair, holding him close as he sucked her until she rocked her pelvis into him, seeking what he’d promised a moment ago. She wanted him inside her, filling her until she lost her mind.
Ty scraped his teeth across her nipple, drawing a sharp cry from her. At the same time, he slid a finger deep inside her. It felt incredible but not enough.
“Ty.” She yanked on his hair.
He grunted, but it quickly turned into a wicked chuckle. “What’s wrong, baby? You need something bigger inside this pussy?” As he spoke, he stroked the walls of her sex, making it hard to think.
“Y-you know I do,” she said as she tried to catch her breath. “Stop teasing me.” She tugged his hair again.
Another dark chuckle met her ears. “Guess I better give you what you want, or I’ll be bald.”
Laughing, Kelsie released his hair. He sat up and stared down at her.
The way he moved as he shoved his sweats down his hips had her lower belly quivering. So effortlessly sexy. Everything he did called to her in a primal way. The man could be peeling potatoes, and she’d salivate over the play of his muscles and the skill of his hands.
As he freed his cock, it sprang forward, heavy and glistening at the tip. For the first time since she’d been with him, she felt a small flare of unease. Hostile memories tried to barge their way through the haze of lust.
Ty must have seen something in her face or felt the brief tensing of her muscles. “No pressure,” he said, smoothing his hands up and down her spread thighs. “We don’t have to do anything.”
The concern in his eyes, the way he picked up on her cues and immediately worked to dispel her anxiety, was enough to chase away the demons at her door.
“I’m good, Ty.”
His compressed lips conveyed his uncertainty.
“I want you, Ty. Right now.” Kelsie smiled and drew an X-shape over her bare chest. “I swear it. Please don’t stop.”
She held her breath as she waited for his reaction. If he put an end to this now, she’d shrivel up and die in a pool of unsatisfied desire.
But he didn’t. His sinful grin returned as he leaned across her to grab a condom from his nightstand. Kelsie watched, heart thumping in her throat as he smoothed the latex over his impressive cock.
“Ready?”
“You have no idea.”
He rumbled out a chuckle. “Pretty sure I do, baby.” He was leaning over her, his hands braced by her head. “Put me in,” he whispered next to her ear, his voice like velvety wine.
Kelsie blew out a breath. She was so turned on she could barely function. He kissed her neck, then the shell of her ear, while she tried to connect enough brain cells to carry out his sexy command.
Fingers trembling, she wrapped her hands around his shaft. The second she touched him, he hissed out a curse. The raw want in the word emboldened her. She squeezed him and tugged a few times before guiding him to her opening.
“Minx,” he whispered, panting. “You’re trouble. Beautiful, wonderful trouble.”
Her heart soared. Their gazes met, and she nodded once. They were so connected that Ty understood her meaning and slowly thrust his hips. His cock pushed inside her inch by inch, stealing her breath and stretching her the way she’d dreamed.
She didn’t feel a lick of fear or bad thoughts, only hot pleasure.
Tears sprang to her eyes, but she blinked them away. Ty kissed her as he bottomed out, stilling for her to adjust.
“So perfect,” he whispered. “You take my cock so fucking good, Kelsie. Never felt anything better.”
His words were as amazing as the feeling of him inside her. They could have stayed that way forever, and she’d never want for anything again. Before this morning, she might have been halfway in love with him, stupid as it was, but this moment tipped the scales, and she fell the rest of the way.
If it all fell apart tomorrow, at least she’d know they had this one perfect moment.