Break My Heart (The Heart Series Book 2) (4 page)

Avoiding my gaze, she gets right into the shower, shutting the glass door behind her.

CHAPTER 4

Ileana

Fog clouds the clear shower door, providing enough coverage for me to hide.

Those damn memories…triggered at the most sacred of moments: my time with Tommy.

There’s no reason for me to recall such horrible things when I’m with him.

I hate it. I hate this day. I hate my birthday.

Turning my back to the steaming water, I dip my head under and let the stream wash away the past so I can get back to the present. Here, with Tommy. The most gorgeous man on the planet is right outside that door, and I’m hiding in here.

“Damn it,” I mutter, scolding myself for letting shit get to me.

The glass door slowly opens, and I blink the droplets of water away from my vision. Tommy appears, cautiously keeping his distance. He’s stark naked, and so stunningly beautiful. Those striking greens, framed by his perfect brows, watch me with trepidation. His skin, covered in mist from the steam, glistens as his muscles flex, his strong chest bearing my tattoo, and tight six-pack—

“Hey.” That’s all he says, and I’m melting at the sound of his voice.

“Hey.” My eyes travel south and my breath hitches at the sight of this large erection. I swallow thickly, trying to seem casual, but I suck at it.

Tommy is intense even when he tries not to be. At six two, he oozes sex appeal, feral male, and sin. He can’t help it. He’s a presence that can’t escape notice, no matter the time, place, or occasion.

We’ve been intimate for six weeks and heaven help me, no amount of speculation or fantasy could have ever prepared me for the actuality of being involved with Tommy Colton.

Nothing, I mean
nothing
compares to the real thing.

“Everything okay?” he breathes, and my core pulses involuntarily.

He comes closer, his pupils a dark forest full of mystery and secrets waiting to be explored. I want to reach out and touch him, just to make sure he’s here. I still can’t believe he wants
me
.

“I’m fine…I just flaked out. It’s this day. I’m sorry,” I rattle on dismissively. Last thing I want to do is rehash my past and the trail of hang-ups it created.

“Really?” Those luscious lips curve up in a smart-ass smirk.

His skepticism puts me on the defensive. He thinks he’s so smooth.

“Yes, really,” I insist, jutting my chin up in defiance and retreating into the shower stream.

My knees are still weak from want, but I’ll be damned if I let him know that. It would go right to his head, and I’d never hear the end of it.

“Right.” He chuckles, taking a step closer. Challenging me.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Colton,” I quip, standing my ground.

“I see.” He nods. His expression is full of mock resignation. “Is that why you’re taking a shower with your panties on?” He smirks at my underwear.

Shit
. I shut my eyes in defeat. I knew I was forgetting something.

“I did that on purpose.” I shrug, full of false bravado.

He laughs wholeheartedly, erasing the tension, the doubt, and the ugliness that plague me at the moment. His amusement is infectious, and I give in with a smile.

And then he’s standing mere inches from me, so close I have to tip my head back under the running water to take in his striking features. His hands go to my hair, massaging my scalp. I close my eyes in pure bliss, enjoying the sensations: the tips of his fingers against my head, hot breath on my face, his hard-on pulsing against my belly.

“I love the long hair,” he groans, his voice laced with desire.

“
Mmmhmm
,” I mutter, incoherent, my mouth watering at the thought of what’s to come.

Tommy slays me with just a word or the slightest touch. I have no doubt he has studied me thoroughly to the point of knowing every nuance, every place to touch, every word to say. He can incite things within me that I never knew possible.

I open my eyes and stare up at his beautiful smile, hovering over my own. I wrap my arms around his waist, waiting for him to kiss me, but he doesn’t. Instead, his mouth lingers above mine in pure torture. I look up into his gorgeous emerald eyes, and he grins shamelessly.

“There we go.”

He closes the small distance, kissing me tenderly, holding my gaze the entire time, and the wetness between my legs has nothing to do with the shower.

My core pulses with desire. This is what he does. He drives me crazy.

“Let’s get rid of these first,” he utters against my lips.

As he pulls my soaking wet underwear off, he gets on his knees, trailing his fingers up my legs. Holding my hips, he examines my skin. He finally leans forward and kisses my stomach scar reverently, wincing as if in pain. His expression slays me.

I clutch onto him as he hugs me. My fingers thread though his soft hair, now wet from the shower. We cherish each other quietly until he rises, bringing his mouth to my hardened nipple. He licks and sucks gently, then moves to my other breast. Overwhelmed by sensation, my balance falters, but he holds me in place, one strong arm around my waist while his fingers wander to my center, teasing me mercilessly.

“Tommy,” I moan, consumed by lust and pure desire for this man.

This amazing, complicated, impulsive, gorgeous, sweet man.

My eyes fly open the second his fingers stop, cool air hitting my nipple at the absence of his warm mouth, to find him watching me intently.

“Happy Birthday, Lily,” he says in a gravelly voice.

A smug, happy grin shines down on me.

Before I can respond, he hoists me up, turning us and pressing my back to the shower wall, stealing my breath as he grinds against me. I wrap my legs around him, trapping him in place.

My head falls back in ecstasy. I can’t bear to watch. One look at him and I’ll explode into a million pieces. I never want this to end. He’s not even inside me yet, and I’m so close….

In one fluid motion, he grabs my ass and enters me, filling me completely. I hold on to him like my life depends on it. His movements are slow and purposeful, and it kills me. He’s savoring every minute we are joined, and I squeeze my eyes shut, unwilling to think about the moment it’s over.

His breath tickles my neck as he cherishes me, whispering his love and devotion. I can’t hold it in anymore and soft moans escape me. Tommy picks up the pace, hips pumping, wet skin crashing against mine. Our bodies are one and I still can’t get close enough. I don’t want to let him go, so I grip him tighter.

“Jesus, Lil, you feel so good,” he growls, and I drown in him.

In the way he eases what ails me. In the way his skin melds with mine. In the way he makes me feel.

He’s my
everything
.

“Tommy....” I can’t verbalize what he does to me; I just call his name, like a plea.

“Hold on, baby.”

I do as I’m told, anchoring my arms and legs around him. He pulls me away from the wall, his mouth consuming mine as he thrusts deeper and faster, guiding me straight to the precipice, taking me higher and higher, faster and faster, until we reach the top simultaneously.

“Lil,” he hisses between his teeth, his body clenching as he crushes me against the tiled wall. He pulses inside me, and the sensation is nothing short of magnificent.

I free fall, convulsing around him, no longer afraid of crashing to the ground.

Because Tommy is holding on for the both of us, and he will never let go.

قلب

It took every ounce of self-control I had to leave the apartment this morning.

Getting ready for work, I had to watch Tommy saunter around the kitchen shirtless, gym shorts hanging low on his hips, his bed hair in disarray. I must say, if there’s anything I do have, it’s willpower. I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with him all day and forget the world.

In his arms, nothing can touch me.

After quickly bidding Tommy goodbye, I left him in post-coital bliss and headed out before I changed my mind and called in sick.

Today, I’m heading to Bloomingfield with Nelson and Ryan to follow up on the report from last night. Fresh burn marks were discovered in the same grassy field where they found Wayne and me in January.

My stomach revolts at the thought. I haven’t been back since and had no plans to return.

The case should be closed, but Nelson is like a dog with a bone. The damn guy won’t let it go until he figures out who was responsible for my disappearance. I thought about pretending that I remembered Wayne kidnapping me, but knowing him, it wouldn’t be enough. He’d want concrete proof.

No amount of critical thinking, logic, or rationale can explain what I lived those months I was gone—which were barely weeks to me. Time moved on without me.

“Harper, you all right?” Charlie saves me from my thoughts.

I have to keep focused. Charlie is very perceptive; he’s a lot like Colton—always thinking outside the box.

“I’m good.”

Once we enter the small town, I keep my eyes averted to avoid the dreaded scenery. It is a ride I want out of. Pull the car over, destiny, I think I’ll get off here. Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt that says, “I traveled to Bloomingfield and all I got was this lousy psychosis.”

Busying myself with my iPhone, I go through my messages. There’s a text from Chris, checking up on me after yesterday’s little trip to the floor.

No texts from Tommy; he said he was going to hit the gym. He’s been working all kinds of odd hours. Whatever details he’s keeping from me are worth worrying about.

I’ve known Tommy most of my adult life. He’s a risk-taker; he’ll go above and beyond to get the job done.

He calls it bravery. I call it stupidity.

Tomato
,
tomahto
. But that’s Tommy.

Back in Afghanistan, every time there was a random search or dangerous solo mission, Tommy was the first guy to volunteer to clear buildings or sneak off post on secret missions. Every time my superiors would ask me, “You got a crazy grunt who’ll venture out?” I knew exactly who to ask: Sergeant Colton. Why? Because I knew he’d be back every time. He’s like a boomerang. No matter what angle you throw him at, he comes right back.

By the time I glance out the window, we’re turning onto the blessed country road Tommy and I took last year during that fateful manhunt for the
time-traveling serial killer
.

Yeah, I’ll open my next shrink session with that little gem of information. “By the way, Doctor Matthews, I think I traveled seventy years into the past and last night, a hallucination knocked on my door.”

Never gonna happen.

We pull to the side of the deserted, quiet country road. The second the car shuts off, my heart rate increases a steady, fast pounding all the way up inside my ears. Taking deep breaths, I methodically undo my seatbelt. I need a minute to collect myself, that’s all.

“Are you ready, Harper?” Nelson addresses me like the victim of a crime instead of his colleague. I don’t like it.

“Yeah.” I exit the car quickly, going around to the other side to join Charlie.

Nelson doesn’t waste any time. Ever the Boy Scout, he looks both ways before crossing the road.

“I’ll grab the camera,” Charlie says, while I check my gear for the umpteenth time.

My Glock is strapped to my side, my badge clipped to my belt, and handcuffs tucked behind my back.

I’m stalling and I know it.

Of all the days to be at this cursed place. The day after my damn birthday.

I’m unable to move, rooted next to the car. The cold wind dances and whispers secrets, just as it did that October morning. Taunting me, daring me to go into that field. My throat tightens and I quickly swallow, trying to push down the fear that is threatening to engulf me.

What am I afraid of? That I’ll disappear again?

Yes, I am, very much so.

“Give me a minute, Ryan,” I say, mustering my best Agent voice.

“Sure.”

I check my phone one last time. I want to call Tommy. I want to tell him I’m scared I’ll get sucked back into oblivion, that I’ll have some kind of mental breakdown again and hallucinate I can time-travel.

But I would have to tell him where I am. If Tommy knew where I was, he would flip out. He would race straight here, throw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and take me home.

Charlie pulls out a cigarette and lights up. He’s letting me take my time, and I appreciate it. Nelson heads into the field, stopping by stiff, wavering stalks of grass.

“Okay, according to BPD, this is the spot. It’s about a mile that way, heading southwest.” Nelson points to vast expanse behind him, shouting from the other side of the road. “Do you need a moment, Harper?”

He’s doing it again, treating me like some traumatized victim returning to the scene of the crime.

And he’s the only reason I’m here. Because he won’t let it go. Because he won’t leave well enough alone.

That does it.

“Hey, Nelson, do me a favor,” I shout back.

“Sure.”

“Stop talking to me like I’m some fucking victim getting ready to pick a perp out of a lineup.” I pin him with a glare. “You think you can do that for me?”

Charlie laughs a big belly laugh, puffing smoke out in the process.

Nelson is not amused. “Fine,” he huffs, and marches off into the field on his own.

If he gets sucked into some vortex, I’m not chasing his stupid ass.

“Hey! You go missing, Chris is gonna kill you!” I yell after him without moving an inch from my spot.

He stops dead, stays frozen for a second, then makes his way back, approaching us like a kid scolded for wandering off. Charlie and I can’t hide our amusement.

The chilly wind continues to blow the tall grass around, the only witness this morning. To what happened that fateful day in October when I chased after a suspect. To that winter day months later when I almost bled to death.

I scrape my boot sole against the pavement, grinding small pebbles. I play around with them, contemplating the faded out and cracked road, the yellow line through the middle barely visible. Small dead weeds sprung long ago stick through the pavement cracks.