Devil May Care: Boxed Set (8 page)

She looked away for a brief moment, then met his gaze with tears lying low in her eyes. “I’ve never had anyone protect me like that. It seems like everyone just wants to hurt me. I wonder if I do something to bring it on.”

“No, don’t say that.” He reached and put his palm to her cheek. “It’s not your fault. You deserve to be loved and cherished. And I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”

She blinked and a thin line of tears ran down her cheeks. He brushed them away with his thumb. Then he slowly leaned forward and kissed the trail they’d left behind. “No more tears tonight.”

He tilted her face toward him and she let her eyes close as he touched his lips to hers. The passion ignited in him. It tore up the rage and burned with the same heat. He would set the world on fire for her, and he’d set her on fire with pleasure if she let him.

The kiss intensified. He pressed harder against her lips and his tongue found hers, slipping deep in her mouth. He was so hard he thought he’d burst. His hand pressed into her back, bringing her closer to him. He pressed his hips against her and she murmured against his mouth.

The sound of it drove him wild. He brought his hand around slowly to her front. He had no idea what sort of damage her ex had done. Maybe he was rough in the bedroom. Maybe he’d forced her. There were plenty of heart wrenching nights he’d heard his mother screaming from their bedroom and he’d wanted to go in there and tear his father to shreds. So every move he made slowly, making sure she fully allowed it before moving on.

He moved across her stomach and under her shirt inch by inch. When his fingers brushed the edge of her bra, he paused, giving her the chance to say no. When she didn’t, he let his fingers slip under and pinched her nipple. She squirmed under his touch.

“Does that hurt?” he whispered in her ear.

“No. I like it.”

“Stop me if you don’t.”

She pressed her lips to him and ran her hands along his back. He tensed and arched at the pain.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” She dropped her arms and pulled back from him. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay.” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. “What really hurts is how far away you are.” He pulled her closer and resumed kissing her.

He picked her up in his arms and carried to the bedroom, kicking the door open with his foot, then using it to close it behind him. He laid her gently on the bed and yanked his shirt off.

She looked up at him with such an angelic gaze that he had to pause just to look in her eyes for a moment.

“I want you,” he said, kissing her neck.

“Me too.”

“Really? You’re sure?”

She nodded and pulled her own shirt off. He reached behind her and took off her bra. He kissed her bare breasts, rubbing his thumb across her nipples and gently biting at them. She moaned in response and tugged at his hair. Every time she did, it shot a wave of bliss through him. He wanted to tear into her right then, but he’d learned how to take things slow. Really draw it out to make it even better.

He kissed along her stomach and teased her, pressing his hand to her crotch over her pants. She moaned and moved against him. He unzipped her pants and tugged them slowly down. Then he rubbed his thumb over her panties, making her wet and soaking through the fabric. He pushed them to the side to slip a finger inside her. She cried out and he went so stiff, he thought Little Jazz would burst.

He pulled her panties off and instead slipped his tongue in her, tasting her juices and feeling her warm softness. She gripped his hair again. He had to stop now or it’d be too late. He slid up to meet her face and slipped his tongue in her mouth.

She dug her fingers into the muscles in his ass and tried to pull him closer.

He gave her a menacing smile. “Oh, do you want my cock?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “Please?”

“I love it when you beg.” He took her earlobe between his teeth and tugged, growling in her ear.

She pulled on him again. He let his hips down enough so that his hard cock brushed against her lips, spreading her wetness around. She moaned and reached down grab him. He pulled back. She stroked his cock for a minute until he almost came. He quickly pulled out of her grip.

He teased her more, putting just his head in, then taking it back out. He pressed in a little farther, then backed out again.

“Jasper!” she cried out.

The sound sent chills through him. He pushed in deep, filling her pussy. She cried out and slammed her hips against him, moving in slow circles as he pulled out and thrust in again.

Every time he slid back, almost pulling out, then slammed into her, she moaned loudly and gripped his ass tighter, trying to force him to stay deep inside her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and he pumped until he got close.

There was something he’d been dreaming of doing since the first time he saw her. He hoped she didn’t object. He pulled out, his dick wet and cold without her. He flipped her over and she raised her ass to him. He bent down to lick her up and down a few times, then he knelt behind her and entered her again.

His cock was in her pussy so deep, he thought he felt her stomach. His fingers tangled in her long brown hair and he pulled back and slammed her again and again. He reached around to rub circles over her clit. When her moans came more frequently and intensely, he picked up his pace, banging her hips against his faster and faster until he felt her juices flow over him. Then he thrust in as hard and far as his dick would go, and felt the release. He shuddered in pleasure and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her until he was fully finished.

She fell to the bed, breathing heavily, and he fell into place beside her. “That was so good,” he said. He nestled in close, pulling her naked body against his like spoons.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s been so long for me. And even longer that it was enjoyable.”

“What do you mean?” He ran his nose back and forth across her neck, breathing in the scent of her.

“Sam was never concerned with whether or not I enjoyed it. It was all about him. It was usually very fast.”

“Oh wow. I was a bit worried.” He ran his fingers along her arm and down her hips. “I didn’t know if he got rough with you or anything. If you’d be scared or wouldn’t like certain positions.”

“I liked everything you did.”

“Good. I’d never want to hurt you.”

“You didn’t.”

He cupped her breast, enjoying the feel of it in his hand. “I’m glad.”

She stilled and he watched until she fell asleep. At least he’d been able to take her mind off the man who bruised her and held a gun to her head. Now she was sleeping and hopefully she’d stay asleep long enough to get the rest she needed.

He kept his arms around her and stayed alert through most of the night. He would wake up, listen, make sure the heard nothing out of place, then squeeze her in a hug.

Every second he had her in his arms, he would cherish. It couldn’t last. He was endangering her already. She’d been threatened and attacked because of him and was now living in fear of it happening again. He was afraid, too. But only because he couldn’t be with her every second of the day. What would he do when she went to work? He could go and sit in the shop or outside, watching. He could send someone as her body guard. But even as much as he trusted Aaron, he wouldn’t trust anyone to protect her like he would.

As soon as she was safe, he’d have to stay away from her. He’d only end up bringing her and her daughter more pain and misery as time went on. Another bad deal, the next motorcycle club out to get him…how long would it be before someone else was after him? They always went for the things most precious to someone they wanted to hurt. Why fight a man when all you had to do was threaten his girl? It worked even better than beating him.

He was the proof. They’d almost killed him. Yet, he sat and made casual plans with his club, taking time to build the perfect plan and put it into action. Now that Fiona had been hurt, though, it was all out the window. He would waste no time going after these guys. Even if it meant blowing the plan, he couldn’t allow them to keep walking on this planet if they’d bruised her. He still wanted to go back and find her ex and put a bullet in his head. Maybe he would one day.

He almost hoped this Sam guy would find them. Let him come knocking. It would make things easy for Jasper. And then he could take out the years of rage on him like he hadn’t gotten to do with his own father. He’d wanted to torture him. Wanted him to pay for what he did to his mama. But Jasper’s brother had shot him. Idiot gave him a merciful death. He didn’t deserve that. At least, Jasper thought, he was rotting in hell. So there was that. But even an eternity of burning wasn’t enough. Jasper had wanted him to see his face as he beat him like he beat his mama all those years. Wanted his dad to quake in fear, to cower under his hand. He wanted him to see what it felt like.

But Sam would do. He would be representative enough. And it would make Fiona and Sophia really, truly free of him. They’d never have to worry. Then he’d have her all to himself.

The thought brought sadness with it. No. No, he couldn’t have her like that. Hadn’t he just thought how he had to stay away from her because of his reckless lifestyle? Because even without Sam in the picture, he was the one who would put her in danger. And Sophia. And he didn’t want that. Couldn’t be the one to do that. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself for it.

He had to leave her alone. But then she stirred. She turned toward him and pressed her face against his chest. His heart warmed. He squeezed her tight. How would he ever let her go? He wanted to hold her forever. Keep her this close. He closed his eyes. How would he ever stay away from her when he wanted her so badly?

Waking up in Jasper’s arms was like a dream come true. She had slept well. So well. When she’d woken through the night, he was there, strong arms around her, keeping her close and safe. She felt so protected and so safe with him there. A warmness filled her heart that she hadn’t felt in years. It settled in, making her want him on the deepest level.

He was good in bed, sure. Excellent even. But she wanted so much more than that. She wanted his thoughtfulness and caring, the way he seemed to want to do anything for her. The way he seemed to care about her, maybe even deeply liked her. It was far more affection than Sam had ever given her.

But then, Jasper was so different from Sam. When Jasper got mad, he tightened his fists and clenched his jaw, but he didn’t hit anything. He didn’t threaten her. Instead, he dropped everything to come protect her when someone else had threatened her. Sam would never do that. He might’ve helped the guy take her out for all she knew.

Jasper liked the things she did. He never complained about things like her cooking, or her messy hair at the end of the day, or the way the house looked. Even if it was a total disaster most of the time. Sam did nothing but yell at her and tell her what she did wrong. Jasper complimented her and made her feel special.

Every thought of Jasper brought a fresh warmth to her chest.
Yes
, she thought.
This is it. This is falling in love.
She was falling in love with him. And it felt really, really good. She only hoped Sophia would like him just as much.

Oh, but Sophia. She’d played with him and even when he was still recovering from horrible injuries he played with her, he listened to her. He’d spent more time with her already, given her more undivided attention than Sam probably ever had. She already seemed to like him. Already was asking when he could come play again. And the way Jasper wanted to protect her, too.

No, she didn’t have to worry about that at all. Jasper would be the type of guy to provide for them and love them, to protect them and cherish them. How she loved that word and loved it even more when he used it to about her. She wanted to be cherished. What would that even feel like? It would feel like this, she thought, pressing her body against his warmth. It would feel good and safe and peaceful.

Even if he was a little bit bad boy, it didn’t show. Not like it had for Sam. Sam was on all the time, always tough. But Jasper had this softer side that he gave her. Maybe he was tough around his friends, and at whatever his job was, but when he was here, he left the tough guy behind.

She could deal with a small amount of criminal activity. It sounded like he just sold drugs. Illegal, yes. But violent, no. He wasn’t breaking into stores and robbing them. He wasn’t mugging people on the street. He wasn’t getting into fights for money. He wasn’t selling stolen guns. These were all the things that Sam and his motorcycle club had done. These were the things all motorcycle clubs did. But Jasper proved you could ride a bike and not be part of a dangerous club. You could do illegal things without making them so violent. And, apparently, you could be a bad boy and be tough, but still be the protector and sweet as could be on the inside.

Jasper was nothing like Sam. And that made her want to love him even more.

She opened her eyes to look up at him. He looked back down at her.

“Did you sleep well?’ he asked.

“I haven’t slept that well in years.” She stretched out, pressing her still naked body against his.

“Keep that up and you won’t have time for breakfast. I’ll have to have you again.”

“I might be okay with that.” But then a door squeaked. Fiona recognized the sound. “It’s Sophia.”

He hugged her tight and she kissed him. She sat up and found her clothes, then quickly dressed and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Sophia stood in her room doorway, rubbing her eyes, her doll with the pink dress hanging from her hand.

“Morning, sleepy head,” Fiona said.

“Can we have waffles?”

“Sure. Want to come help me?”

Sophia followed Fiona into the kitchen, where they began the waffles. Fiona took out the waffle iron and the ingredients to make the mix. Sophia got out the measuring cup from the drawer and set it on the counter.

“Hey, Sophia, do you remember my friend, Jasper?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, guess what?”

“What?”

“He’s here. He came over last night to help me and it got really late, so he just decided to spend the night. Kinda like a slumber party.” Maybe he hadn’t been too far off to suggest that.

“Why didn’t you invite me?” Her little lip quivered. “I want to have a slumber party, too.”

“We can have one tonight. We can invite all your dolls and animals and have a big huge slumber party in my bed. How does that sound?”

“Okay. Can Jasper come, too?”

“Come to what?” Jasper appeared in the doorway, fully dressed, watching. “What are you making?”

“Waffles,” Fiona said.

“From scratch?”

“Yes.” She chuckled and brushed the flour form the counter. “Do you think I would dare feed my child frozen waffles?” She said it as a joke, but he didn’t smile.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with frozen waffles. If you need to make her frozen waffles, then that’s what you do.”

She stared at him for a moment, his gaze so strong and intent, it bore through her.

“Okay,” she said, not sure what else to say.

“You have no one to impress. No one else’s standards to live up to. Do what works for you and you only.”

She nodded. Though she’d slept well, she was still tired from being up late and dealing with all she went through. Tears crept into her eyes. She blinked them away and focused on what she was doing. She stirred the mix, adding in the eggs and oil.

“Sophia, can you set the table?” Fiona asked.

Sophia took Jasper’s hand and dragged him to the cabinet where the dishes were. “I can’t reach,” she said, and pointed.

He opened the cabinet and took out three plates. “What else do we need?”

Sophia went to the silverware drawer and took out forks and knives and spoons—all of them.

“Whoa,” he said. “We only need three of each, right?”

“But what about my animals?”

He looked to Fiona. She smiled and said, “They can eat later. Today, it’s just us, okay?”

“Okay.” Sophia dumped all the silverware back in the drawer.

Jasper restored them into the proper slots and handed Sophia three knives, three forks, and three spoons.

She took them to the table and tried to set them out. But one place had two spoons and no fork. Another had three forks. Fiona saw Jasper hold back a smile as he fixed the silverware.

Sophia sat down, waiting.

“Do we need glasses?” Jasper asked.

Sophia pointed from her place at the table. Jasper took out three glasses and set them down.

“What do you want to drink?” he asked.

Sophia looked shocked and her face almost made Fiona laugh out loud.

“Milk,” Sophia said with a duh-are-you-kidding-me face.

Jasper took out the milk and poured three glasses. “Coffee?” he asked Fiona.

She nodded with her head. “It’s above in the cabinet.”

He made the coffee while she poured the batter into the iron, making waffle after waffle. She took out the whipped cream and strawberries and chocolate. In the center of each, she piled the strawberries, drizzled chocolate over, then added a dab of whipped cream. She put one in front of each of them, then made one for herself.

“Your mommy is a master chef,” Jasper said. “You’re super lucky.”

“Oh, I know,” Sophia said fervently. “She’s the bestest.”

Finally, Fiona joined them at the table with her own waffle. “I still have some batter if you want more,” she said.

“I think I could eat ten of these,” Jasper said. “They’re so good.”

“And the strawberries make them healthy,” Sophia added.

“And the chocolate makes them yummy,” Fiona said, sticking a forkful into her mouth. They were a little dry, she thought. But Jasper didn’t seem to notice. Maybe his had been better.

“Are you going to school today?” Jasper asked.

“I don’t go to school. Not until a few months.”

“Ah.”

“She starts kindergarten in the fall,” Fiona said.

“Do you work in a store like my mommy does?” Sophia asked.

Jasper shook his head. “My job is a little different. Do you know what a motorcycle is?”

Sophia nodded. “My daddy had one. They’re loud.”

“They are,” he agreed. “Well, I have a lot of friends and we all have motorcycles and we like to ride them. I’m their leader. We do lots of different things to make money.”

“Like what?” Sophia asked.

Fiona almost dropped her fork. “Yeah, like what?” she said sharply. Would he just outright lie?

“Well, we sell things mostly. People sell us stuff like TVs and computers for cheap and we sell them to other people. Kinda like how a store does it.”

Fiona huffed and narrowed her eyes at him. “So, you’re the leader of a motorcycle club?”

“Yeah. The Crimson Hawks.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You knew I had a bike.”

“But I didn’t know you had an MC.”

“Can I be in the club?” Sophia asked.

“If you have a motorcycle, sure,” Jasper said. He raised an eyebrow at Fiona, but she turned away.

Now she was fighting back different tears. The hurt and betrayal she felt gripped her heart. He was an MC leader. He didn’t just dabble with drugs. He didn’t just get into occasional fights. All MCs were the same. They lied, cheated, stole, did whatever they had to for money. She’d never outright asked him, and she had just made assumptions, but still. She felt deceived by him. Whatever she had thought about him was wrong. He was just like Sam. He was violent and a criminal and dangerous.

Maybe he wasn’t worth all the trouble she was in now with this guy following her. Maybe she should just take Sophia and get away from him. Away from here. The anger bubbled up in her. She’d just made a home for them. They were just settling in. She had a decent job. Sophia was going to school soon. She had friends. And now she’d have to leave for another biker bad boy who was just like Sam.

How could she be so stupid? How could she fall for him and believe his lies? Because she was stupid. She’d believed Sam’s lies, hadn’t she? Fallen into his trap. And how many times did she forgive him and believe him when he said he’d never hurt her again? Jasper was just the same. He’d wait until he had her, then he’d flip and turn on her. He’d get mean and he’d hit her, too. And now she’d slept with him. Her stomach turned and she couldn’t eat anymore. She got up to put her food away and cleaned up, thoroughly disgusted with herself.

***

The change in Fiona was sudden and obvious and left him reeling. Was it because he was an MC leader? He couldn’t think of anything else that he’d done that would cause her to turn on him like that. He’d been good to the kid, even helped out. They’d had a fabulous night, and now this.