Chapter 6
Chapter Six
D rew carried her into the house. Karlie was so bruised and broken that she lay weak and helpless in his arms, her face against his neck. He could feel her fresh, warm tears.
“Baby, don’t cry, please.” He set her down on the bed and went to the en-suite to run her a hot bath.
He added some Epsom salts into the water to help draw out her bruises.
He’d have her put ice on her mouth and cheek after her bath.
Drew just wanted to wash away her pain and all the reminders of the day.
God, he’d wanted to kill that son of a bitch when he walked into that room and saw Jake holding her by the hair and hitting her face.
He went crazy, punching Jake and wanting to do so much more.
The only thing that stopped him was Karlie’s moans.
He couldn’t stay away from her—he needed to comfort and take care of her.
She was his, and he let her suffer at that bastard’s hands.
He would never let anyone touch her again.
He’d find a way to keep her with him and keep her safe.
He went back into the bedroom and found Karlie still crying—she was rolled up into the fetal position.
God, she was ripping his heart out. “Baby, shh. Here, let me help you. We’re going to take a bath, and I am going to take care of you, okay?
” She didn’t move or make a sound. He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bathroom.
Drew gently sat her down and turned her away from him to unzip her dress.
At first, she seemed hesitant to take off her clothes.
He waited on her for a few minutes, giving her time to catch her breath.
She lowered the torn dress, and he helped her to step free from it.
It was his turn to take a moment to catch his breath because she hadn’t worn anything under the dress.
His damn dick had a mind of its own. Right now, Karlie didn’t need him lusting after her.
She needed him to just love her, and he did.
He wished it was the right time to tell her how he was feeling, but taking a chance and scaring her off wasn’t an option.
He stripped out of his suit and helped ease her into the hot water. Drew sat down, and she sank onto his lap, hissing when the water got too close to her face and neck. “Easy, sweetheart, don’t get your bruises wet yet. Let the water cool a little first. Just lean back on me and relax.”
She did as he asked and groaned.
“That’s a new one,” she said, her voice sounding hoarse from all the screaming earlier.
“What?” he questioned.
“The name—sweetheart. It’s a new one—it’s usually baby. I don’t remember you using sweetheart before.”
“You don’t like it?” He grabbed the soap, set her up a little, and started washing her back.
“God, that feels good,” she moaned, “and yes, I like your pet names for me.”
“Pet names,” he said with a chuckle. “Well, as long as you like them, I’ll keep on using them.
” He leaned her back against his body again, now washing her front.
He soaped his hands and ran them over her breasts, trying to think of the lyrics to his favorite song, but right now he couldn’t even remember how to spell his damn name.
“Mmm, that feels good,” she slurred, spreading her legs slightly over his.
“Baby, you just had the shit beat out of you, remember?”
“Yeah, but I’d like you to help me forget.
” She turned in his arms, straddling his cock, rubbing her pussy over his shaft.
The head of his dick was resting at the base of her slick opening.
She froze, eyes widening, “Oh, I never thought to ask you if you wanted me, you know, like this.” She gestured to her bruised face, lifting herself off his lap, and he felt like an ass for hesitating.
His hands immediately went to her hips, holding her still over his dick.
“Baby, I want you so damn much I can’t breathe.
What that fucker did to you pisses me off, but I will always want you.
I don’t give a fuck about a few bruises.
” He carefully kissed the side of her lips that weren’t swollen and bloody.
She moaned, and he pulled back to look at her.
“Did I hurt you? I’m trying to be gentle but—”
She leaned into him and licked his lips.
“I moaned because I liked it,” she whispered.
“You won’t hurt me, please.” He kissed down her neck and lifted her to get better access to her breasts.
He loved the way she responded when he lightly bit her nipple, gasping and moaning.
She rubbed up closer against him, and he started to gently lower her onto his throbbing cock.
She smiled at him, a challenge, and slid down his shaft, taking all of him. It was his turn to gasp and moan.
“God, baby, you feel so good. Tell me you’re good, please. This just feels too good to stop.” He rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger, and she hummed her approval.
“Yes,” she hissed. He picked up the pace, sloshing water over the edge of the tub, splashing to the floor.
“Are you close, baby? I can’t last much longer. Come with me, Karlie.” Almost as if her body was obeying his command, she came, sending him over the edge seconds later. “So fucking good, baby.” He shivered in her arms, causing her to laugh.
“Yeah”. She almost seemed to hesitate with what she wanted to say next, weighing her words. “Almost like we fit.”
He hugged her close, his heart beating so fast he thought it would burst from his chest. He wanted to tell her how much he needed her, wanted her, loved her. Would he scare her off, or was she ready to hear what he wanted?
“Karlie, I—” He wasn’t sure how to even start. “I-I think that I’m in love with you.” There, just rip off the Band-Aid— good plan.
She stilled in his arms. Oh God, he’d gone too far. He started to slip from the tub, and she stopped him, grabbing his hand, and pulling him down to kneel in front of her, in the water.
She framed his face with her hands. “I think I’m falling for you, too.”
“Thank fuck.” He blew out his breath. “I didn’t want to scare you off, but I just couldn’t keep how I was feeling in anymore.
” She was rubbing his face in her hands, smiling at him, giving him so much hope.
He could see the love shining in her eyes.
How had he missed that before? He leaned down and gently kissed the side of her mouth.
“Let’s get out of this tub, and I’ll make you something to eat. You must be starving and exhausted after the day we’ve had.”
“I like it when you refer to us as a ‘we,'” she smiled, taking the towel he offered.
“We are a ‘we,' right?” He was so unsure how to proceed with this.
He never wanted anything so bad in his life.
He wanted everything with her—even forever.
She nodded in agreement, and he found himself smiling like a damn kid at her.
Pulling her into his arms, he carried her to their bed.
“I am going to put you in our bed, and I want you to stay here, naked, while I rustle us up some food.”
“So demanding,” she teased, “but I guess I can obey since food is involved. I promise to stay right here as long as I can have my cell phone. I want to call my parents and check on my sister.” Of course, she did.
Karlie was the most caring, loving person he had ever met.
She had forgiven her sister for everything and was now only concerned about Jenna and the baby.
“Yeah, I guess that’s fair. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” He handed her cell phone to her and gave her a soft kiss.
∞
Karlie lay back in bed and stretched her aching body.
Other parts of her started to hurt now, probably from Jake throwing her to the floor.
She knew that she should have been more shaken up, but she had to admit she was pretty happy that Jenna was free of Jake.
Well, as free as her sister could be since she was having Jake’s baby.
And then there was Drew—he’d told her he loved her.
Well, that he was falling in love with her.
How could she not tell him how she was feeling?
She had fallen so hard for him, in such a short time, that she would expect everyone to think she was completely crazy.
But Karlie knew without a doubt that she loved Drew.
She’d just have to figure out everything else, including her family.
She dialed her sister’s number, and her call went directly to voicemail. She tried her parents’ home phone instead of leaving a message on her sister’s cell. Her mom answered on the third ring.
“Karlie, we didn’t expect to hear from you until tomorrow,” her mother whispered.
“Hello, Mom. I’m fine, how are you?” Karlie sassed.
“Well, my daughter’s wedding is ruined, and she had to cry herself to sleep.
The doctor said she needs to rest. The baby seems fine, heartbeat’s strong, but he doesn’t want to take any chances.
He gave her something to help her sleep.
It’s safe for the baby since she’s in her second trimester. ” Karlie breathed a sigh of relief.
“You aren’t going to press charges against Jake, are you, Karlie?” Her mom sounded so stern. What the hell?
“Of course I am,” Karlie replied, unable to stem the hurt in her voice. “Why the hell would I let that scumbag beat the shit out of me, try to rape me, and then let him walk around scot-free?” She was all but yelling at her mother.
“He’s the father of Jenna’s baby. He just had a little too much to drink, and he didn’t use the best judgment. But he didn’t mean to hurt you.”