Chapter 35
Bradford
“Take him out of here,” I turn to Turner, whose brows are lost beneath his baseball hat. “As far as you can go. He’s gotta disappear.”
Cade glares at me, his eyes darkening. “What happened to obeying all those orders, Doc?”
“Necrophilia isn’t my thing,” my eyes jump to Jenna, and back to him. “I prefer warm bodies.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t want to keep living in misery.”
“I agree. You have demons to fight,” I breathe out an exhale. “But you’re gonna have to do that without me. I’m not harboring you or your bullshit anymore. I’m making a trade for the other Kellan.”
Cade’s lip pulls into a half-smirk. “That’s fucked up.”
“So is you staying in this town, if you’ve got men after you.” I don’t let the rational part of my brain kick in. It’s not time for that right now, I reiterate to Turner, who’s still not moving. “Take him out of here.”
“Sorry.” Turner jumps then, grabbing Cade by the arm. “Let’s go.”
Cade pauses at Jenna, wrapping her in a hug with his free arm. “Stick with him. He’ll keep you safe, Jen.”
Irritation burns in my chest at the exchange, given the bruises on her neck, but I grit it out, choosing to stare at the hole in the wall from my .308, instead of the sibling love exchange. I stand in the threshold, as Turner guides Cade past me.
The kid glares at me as I open the door for them. “I know who put the orders on me. He’s a fucking coward.”
“Take that up with him.” I step outside with them and shut the door, so Jenna can’t hear. “Bind his hands.”
Turner eyes me. “Why?”
“I don’t trust him.” I gesture toward my truck. “Take mine.”
Turner nods, then guides him down to the truck and retrieves zip ties from the toolbox. Cade lets Turner secure his arms behind his back, and then climbs into the backseat. Turner lets Gunner hop in beside him, and then slams the door.
I hover there with Turner, stopping him before he walks around to the driver’s side, keeping my voice low. “If anything goes wrong, take him out. If he so much breathes wrong, put one between his eyes.”
He narrows his gaze at me. “You said you weren’t going to kill him…”
“I’m not. You might.” I pause. “We both know what’s best. For everyone.”
Turner nods, his face hardening. “Got it.”
I spin on my heels and leave him to do what needs to be done. I make my way back up the steps and push the door open. Jenna stands there, eyeing me warily.
“I’m never going to see him again, am I?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“He’s not going to make it out of town.” The solemn words slip from her lips in a strange light tone. “That’s what’s best.”
“Sometimes good horses get put down.”
“But you kept your promise.”
“I did.” I remove my cowboy hat, set it on the desk, and then lean against it. “And now, you have to keep yours. I get all of you. And that includes the truth, always. No matter how fucked up it is.”
She takes a step toward me, placing her hands on my upper thighs. “But do you think that you could ever love me? Even though I lied about everything?”
I hold her gaze. “I already think I do. So, let’s see where this goes.”
“Okay,” she whispers, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on my lips. “Let’s just see.”
But before she can lean away, I grab the back of her head and bring her mouth back to mine. She kisses me like I’m the answer to something she’s been running from her whole life.
I go for the bottom of her sweater, and tear it over her head, my hands palming her breasts through her bra. I hook my fingers under the straps of her bra and snap them loose, the sound punctuating the air between us.
Jenna kicks her shoes off and shoves her jeans and underwear down. I follow suit, and let mine drop wherever they land.
I want her, all of her.
She climbs onto the desk and kicks the pictures of the fire to the floor. Pages scatter, fluttering down in a mess of dates and names that don’t mean shit compared to the way she looks at me.
I step between her knees and lift her by the hips, dragging her to the edge so her ribs press into my chest, her hands in my hair, yanking, needy. She bites down on my bottom lip, drawing blood, but I groan into her.
I think this is the only woman I’d ever fucking break orders for.
I tip her back, hands latching around the bare blue-veined lines of her hips and hauling her forward. She pulls me in by my hair, all animal. Her thighs wrap around me like she’s trying to snap my spine in two, and I let her, crushing my body into hers until the pain is as good as pleasure.
I bury my cock in her wet pussy, and hide my face in her neck.
I’m not gentle as I start to thrust. There’s no space here for tenderness, not after everything we’ve done to each other. Jenna drags my mouth to her throat, claws down my back, then bites my shoulder so hard I hiss between my teeth.
“Fuck, Little Liar,” I groan, just as she starts to rock her hips into mine. She clings to me, her anger and desperation fading as the pleasure tenses the muscles in her legs wrapped around me.
“Oh god, Cal.” She’s screams when she comes around my shaft, and I tip my head back to watch as her face contorts with the orgasm.
I’m going to make her do this every day for the rest of her fucking life.
She keeps her eyes open and on me as she finishes. I feel her clench around me, tight as a fist once more, and that’s what pushes me over. I grind into her, nerves going white-hot, every muscle seizing with the need to finish.
I let it, and for one perfect moment there’s no calculations running in the background. There’s only her, the shake in her thighs, and the heat of her mouth dragging my name out of the fire.
I keep my hands locked around her hips, holding her in place even after it’s over, like if I let go, she’ll evaporate and take the last of my luck with her. Maybe that would be for the best, given the drama and lies she comes with.
But honestly, fuck all the chaos she might bring.
I’m keeping her.