Stricken Unveiled (Stricken Rock #2) (25 page)

“Shit, no. Oh…. Damnit! I fucked up bad. We
need to figure out what’s okay to do and what’s not. This is so
damn new to me. I’m so sorry baby. I’m so sorry. Please don’t leave
me. Just let me fix this. Call D if you want the truth. He’ll tell
you. I’ll make it up to you. Please, just please don’t leave me.”
He begs.

“I’m going to sleep now Johnathan it sounds
like you need to do the same. Do me a favor and sleep alone. I’m
exhausted from all you keep putting me through.” I sigh. James
grabs me and pulls me to him, like he knows exactly how I’m
feeling. I have the best bodyguard.

“You’re not leaving me are you baby? Please
don’t. I love you so much. I can’t live without you. I need you.
Please. I’ll make this better. I promise.” He pleads his voice
drenched in desperation.

“Goodnight Johnathan.”

“No! Please. Just tell me if you’re leaving
me?” He’s tone shrill.

“Why? I’m tired. I want to sleep. Your
children want to sleep. You need rest. We will talk sometime when
you’re sober.”

“Fuck! Baby, please don’t leave me. I will
make this up to you. I love you. I love you so fucking much. Oh…
shit… you’re going to leave me aren’t you? Oh… god!” he’s
crying.

“Goodnight Johnathan.” James says and he
clicks my phone off.

It starts to ring again. I turn off the
ringer and tuck it into my bedside drawer.

Wow that was one hell of a conversation.
Drunk and hanging with a bunch of naked women. What another strange
world of rock and roll and Johnathan Striker. Yee haw cowboy.

“You look exhausted Emily. Do you want me to
tuck you in?” James offers sweetly.

Awe, what an adorable man!

“If you’d be super sweet you could stay with
me. The bed is big enough for the both of us. I promise I don’t
bite and I’ll keep my clothes on.”

“We can share a bed. That’s okay. You
wouldn’t ask if you didn’t need it. I know I get lonely sometimes
too. But if you want to sleep let’s take my bed it’s bigger and
it’s nicer.”

I nod and we both get out of bed me in a big
T-shirt and panties and him in his pajama bottoms. I go across the
hall and into his room. He turns on the light and damn his room is
nice! It’s country rustic. With a log queen sized bed, hardwood
floors, cabin wood paneled walls. Not that cheap mobile home kind.
He has a faux bearskin rug, log bedside tables, antler lamps with
green outdoor scene shades. A big window above his bed that is
draped in a cream fabric that flows over the headboard. His bed has
a big hunter green down comforter that he obviously never uses and
cream flannel sheets with pinecones and leaves on them. So
beautiful for a man’s bedroom.

He climbs into his side of the bed. Isn’t
that nice, we don’t use the same side. He pats my side for me. I
climb in and the bed and it’s so soft and cushy. I think I just
fell in love with a bed for the first time. This is beautiful and
no wonder he smells like cedar. I sniff the air. His wallboards are
cedar. He lives in a cedar lined bedroom. That is awesome!

“This is a wonderful be, and you’ve decorated
this bedroom beautifully.” I praise snuggling into the bed covering
up with the comforter.

“I’m glad you like it. I’m kind of the
outdoorsy man. You’re one of two women who’ve shared my bed with
me. So I hope you enjoy it.”

He’s facing away from me, lying on this side
his arm tucked under his pillow. I scoot up behind him, and wrap my
arm over his side resting on his thick ribbed abs. I press my head
to his back. He sighs and then he takes in a deep breath like he’s
about to say something.

“Thank you so much for all of this. I
appreciate it Calvin James.” I hug him tighter real quick and peck
his back and then roll over to my own side and ready myself for a
goodnights rest in the most comfortable bed known to mankind.

I open my eyes and stretch. I look over and
my bed buddy is still lying next to me. On his side, facing the
opposite way. I lean up and reach over him to turn the clock on the
nightstand so I can see what time it is. Damn! It’s already one. I
guess we didn’t get to sleep until late because of the stupid
Johnathan bullshit. It’s kind of cool James sleeps like I do. Or
maybe he woke up and then came back to bed? I have no idea. But he
sleeps so soundly. Not a noise. His body is huge. He’s tall but not
a giant height like Johnathan but his body is thicker. Johnathan is
big and wide and ribbed but James has a light layer of fat over his
golden caramel silky smooth skin. He barely has any hair. I can’t
help but wonder if he has some sort of Native American blood or
Mexican? His short black hair on his head suggests one or the other
and so does his brown green eyes. He runs extra warm and he always
smells better than any man I’ve ever smelt. It’s not an erotic kind
of way it’s soothing and gentle. Like something you want to cuddle
with forever. Like a dog or a giant teddy bear.

I lean up so I can gaze at his face. He’s so
peaceful. The last man I slept with as Johnathan for a few hours
but he was up before I was. Stacy I’ve slept with a hundred times
and he lightly snores and sometimes steals blankets. Which annoys
the shit out of me.

I lay back down beside him and slide a little
closer up to his warmth and so I can check out the tattoos on his
back. I’ve seen Johnathan’s but I’ve never had the chance to get a
good look at most of them. Claire doesn’t have any and neither does
Stacy. But James has a bunch and his back has a giant one spread
across his shoulders of an angel with open wings. The angels a man
looking to the heavens and it’s in black and gray but it’s so
detailed I bet it took thirty hours to complete its shading and
huge outline. On the lower part of his back across right above
where his pants would rub is a sentence saying something but it’s
not in English. I lean up and across his ribs on his left side is
an ancient scroll that goes from a few inches above his thick
hipbone to right under his armpit. It has a bunch of dates on it
but it’s not full. And it has beautiful roses and foliage encasing
it. It’s lovely. I wish I had that much pain tolerance to sit
through something like that. If I lean over a little more to his
stomach I can see Mary and then below her, lower on this stomach
more towards his pelvic area that I really shouldn’t be looking at
because it’s ribbed and too beautiful. But I can’t help myself. He
has a colorful old school rose and a bird, all in full color. The
bird has a ribbon in its mouth and that says love in Italian. I can
make that out at least.

“What are you doing?”

Woah! I sit up straight, moving myself from
leaning over him. My stomach just leapt into my throat. I could
almost piss myself. He scared me. My heart’s pounding.

I clear my throat. “Sorry I was just checking
out your tattoos.” My voice is hoarse. Smooth Em, real smooth.

He rolls onto his back and tucks his hands
under his head, his arms spread and his giant biceps curled so
hotly. His eyes have that sleepy morning look and they crinkle a
little at the sides showing signs of distinguished age. It’s not
unattractive if anything it’s quite the opposite.

“You didn’t have to spy on me when I’m
sleeping Emily to see my tattoos. You could just ask.”

I’m sitting cross-legged, no blankets on,
turned to face him with my knee touching his ribs. I shrug. “I know
I’m sorry. I didn’t know about them until last night I just woke up
and I got curious.” I pout.

He smiles sleepily and reaches up and fingers
my bottom lip quickly, then returns his arm above his head.

“Stop that. I was just teasing.” He reassures
me sweetly.

“How old are you James?” I question
bluntly.

“Why? Does it matter? If I’m old does that
mean you don’t want me as your bodyguard anymore?” he asks evenly
with his face unreadable.

I reach up and gently touch the crow’s-feet
around his eyes softly running my finger up and down. He follows my
hand with his eyes and then closes them allowing me to touch is
soft skin.

“It doesn’t matter James. I was just curious
because I can tell you’re not as young as the rest of us.” I answer
softly, caressing his face. It’s smooth and warm.

I pull away and he opens his eyes. They’re
almost glowing.

“I’m forty three. Old enough to be your
father.” He says.

I rear back with a disgusted look of my face
and shake my head. “I’m sorry Sir Calvin James your age may
indicate you could be my father.
But
you
do not
look
old enough or have anything about you that could make me think or
feel that way.”

He laughs in his chest with a smirk creeping
from the corners of his mouth. “That maybe the case but facts are
facts.” He states. “I can’t be much younger than him.”

“Now don’t bring him into this. He’s forty
nine I think. But that doesn’t matter.” I wave it off. “So….Does it
bother you that you work for a woman who’s so young?” I quirk up my
brow playfully and do a little wiggle.

“At first no. Now
yes
.”

Ok I thought that was going to go a different
way. I figured I’d get some “No I’m your big brother and I’ll kick
men’s asses speech.” I mean he could be my big brother if my father
was like sixty. Okay, maybe he could be my uncle. That works a
little better than father or brother I suppose. But I don’t think
of him as either. He’s a bodyguard, best friend, who’s hot. Even if
he is forty three and I’m twenty four. Jesus that’s nineteen years.
So what, Claire’s thirty eight. If she was straight I’d so hook
them up. But she might be a little too dominate for him. I dunno? I
know James fairly well. Not as much as I know Stacy who I’m
starting to be a little less mad at. Shit my mind has got to stop
jumping around like this.

I shake my head back and forth to clear it.
“Ok James comma Calvin, why a no at first and a yes now?” I
tease.

“When I started working for you I was okay
with protecting a flirty sexpot, who’s sweet. Now I’m not only
protecting a flirty sexpot but living with her and she sleeps in
the same bed with me and is threatening to wear only panties and
bras around the house. I don’t mind living with a woman. But it’s
just going to kill me in my gentleman’s region.”

I giggle. “James are you talking about an
erection.”

He nods shyly. For working with a bunch of
rockers for years he doesn’t talk sex well. He’s shy about most
things uncomfortable. I’m not because I grew up with a foulmouthed
father who never referred to sex as ‘making love’ he called it
fucking. So that’s probably why I do. And my mother let us talk
like that. Then Stacy and I’ve always been open. I’ve never had
much to discuss in the sex department but I’ve openly discussed it
if I needed. Although he went into
way
too much detail a
lot. But overall before I was even sexually open, I’ve never been a
prude talking about sex stuff as long as it didn’t involve me. Now
I’m fine either way. But James is in his forties and works for rock
stars who I know he’s seen screw a bunch of women and he’s shy and
meek about it. Sometimes he makes little hints or comments but he’s
not forward. Deacon on the other hand is forward. He’ll say it ‘you
make my dick hard.’ Or whatever perversion he wants to conjure up.
They are like polar opposites. I can’t believe he’s gone this long
and not crossed over to the dark side.

“Yes.” He blushes.

“How can you have worked for rockers James
and be so shy about sex? Didn’t you ever jump in on the orgies and
just go at it? Most bodyguards would if they got the go-ahead. I’m
just curious, you don’t have to answer.” I say gently I don’t want
to be pushy and bitchy too. He’s too nice to treat that way.

“I’m a sidelines kind of guy. I’ve been that
way all my life. I was a special op’s sniper in the military. I do
the wallflower thing well. That’s why the bodyguard thing works.
I’ve got killer patience and I’m rather quiet. Plus I don’t
approach women and I wouldn’t know how to even if I wanted. I’ve
always been shy especially talking about sex. And even more so
talking about it with a woman who’s in just a T-shirt and panties
in my bed, who’s twenty four and pregnant and not my
girlfriend.”

“Would you like my help talking to woman? I’m
not an expert but I could help.” I offer. I’d love to help James.
He’s too nice not to.

He laughs squinting his eyes. “Emily, Emily,
Emily.” He shakes his head. “You may have a saucy mouth sometimes
but you are so damn sweet. Now come here and hug me so I don’t have
to look at you.” He says, throwing his arms out wide.

I crawl up to him and throw a leg over his
stomach and lay my head on his thick warm cedar scented chest.
Soaking in his warmth and soothing body. Johnathan is hot and so
sexual but why can’t he be calm and soothing like James?

“Why don’t you want to look at me? And want
me to hug you instead.”

He rubs my back with his large hands holding
me close.

“Don’t worry about it and just hug me.”

James and I lay in his bed cuddling for the
next three hours talking. He brings food into his bedroom for us
and we eat cereal in our pj’s, in a room that looks like we are off
on a holiday together in a log cabin somewhere. It’s so awesome! I
might just have to steal his room from time to time to get away. It
smells divine and it’s serene. A lot like James in that sense. Who
would have thought hanging with my bodyguard would be so amazin? I
found out a little more about his tattoos. The scroll is full of
important dates that have happened to him. Like the day he joined
the military and the day his dad died, things of that sort. What a
cool tribute. What I love about him most is he’s sweet and he
doesn’t talk to me or treat me like a piece of meat. I love that
Claire digs me so much and Johnathan does too but James seems to
welcome our friendship. It’s not about sex, at least not often.
Bonus points for that.