Open Life (Open Skies #5) (12 page)

Chapter Ten

Maria lay back against Dillon’s broad chest in the bathtub. His hands were slow and gentle as he massaged the fragrant shampoo in to her long curls and she relaxed totally, loving his touch. And his hard-on pressed in to her lower back was equally awesome.

“Close your eyes, baby,” he said.

She did and sighed with happiness as the warm water rinsed the bubbles away, his hands running through her hair over and over. He put the shower head back in its holder, then wrapped both arms around her, pulling her closer.

“Thank you,” she said. “No man’s ever washed my hair before.”

“No?” He nuzzled the side of her neck as he ran his hands up and down her hips. “You dated cavemen, huh?”

She laughed. “Well, I guess they just weren’t very romantic.”

“You think I’m romantic?” Dillon was genuinely surprised. “Huh. Never thought of myself like that.”

“Well, you should.” She rested her head on his thickly-muscled shoulder. “You’re
amazingly
romantic.”

“Maybe with you I am.” His fingers trailed over her stomach now, started to move lower. “But I’m also horny as fuck.”

She laughed again, more breathless this time. When his fingers found her, she arched back right away, pressing her whole body in to his solid frame. He felt her body tense in all the best ways and gently, slowly, he slipped a thick finger inside her. She flinched a bit and gave a gasp and right away, he stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just – I’m a bit sensitive.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize.” He cupped her soapy breasts and played with her dark nipples. He thought about how many times he’d gone down on her or made her come on his fingers in the past twenty-four hours, and he wasn’t surprised that she was sore. Christ, he’d been inside and on her sweet pussy every chance he’d got. “I guess we’ve been a bit…. ummm…
active
since last night, huh?”

She flushed. “Yeah. It’s – it’s been a while for me. I guess my body needs a bit of recovery and adjustment time.”

“How long, baby?” he asked softly. “How long since you last had sex?”

“A little more than a year,” Maria said. “My ex got a job in Maine and he left a year ago.” She sighed. “That was just before Gabi appeared in my life and told me about my Dad. Between missing Ryan and that shock, I was pretty shaken.”

“Yeah, I bet.”

“That was when I started to eat massive amounts of junk food and take-out.” Maria shifted in his arms. “I just – I kind of used food to cope, I guess and like I told you last night, I’ve gained a lot of weight over the past year. I’m actually really unhappy with my body right now… it’s the
most
unhappy I’ve ever been, I think.”

Dillon was silent for a minute. “Well, you know that I adore your body, Maria, but if you’re unhappy, then I think you need to do something about it, yeah?”

“I’ve been dieting,” she said. “But it’s not so easy to stick to when Manny’s around. Damn him.”

Dillon grinned. “Yeah, I hear you. I’ve had to give myself some pretty stern talking-to's about going back for more bacon or having a fourth pancake.”

She turned in his arms now, her legs tucked under her. She ran her hands over his chest and shoulders with nothing but appreciation.

“Your body is incredible, Dillon. But you work at it, huh?”

“I have to,” he said. “It’s boring, I know, but I have to watch what I eat and work out and stay in shape.”

She touched the scar on his left shoulder. His body was covered in small scars, but this one was distinctive. “Is this where you were shot?”

“Yep. I was protecting a woman whose husband was a fucking psycho stalker. Totally unhinged, I swear it, and she was terrified for herself and her daughter and she was right to be. Anyway, I was with her and we were picking up the kid from school one day when the husband showed up with a gun.”

Maria was startled. “My God… at a
school
?”

“Yeah. It was nothing but a fucking miracle that the only person hurt was me.”

“The woman? The kid?”

“Not a scratch. I saw the guy lurking and I got Sully – the guy that I was working with – to get them to safety. No drama, no big deal, he just walked off with them, which confused the fucker and so I had the time to sneak up on him. We struggled for the gun and it went off.” Dillon shrugged. “I got hit but I still managed to get the gun from him. I shot him in the leg so he couldn’t run and then Sully came out to sit on him until the cops and ambulance arrived.”

“And you quit?”

“I didn’t plan to. I thought I just wanted a break – and now that break has gone on for over two years.”

“You want to go back to it one day? To bodyguarding?”

He grinned down at her and dropped a soft kiss on her perfect lips. “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, darlin’, I’m bodyguarding
now
.” He kissed her throat, her collarbone, her breasts. “And what an amazing body it is to guard.”

She groaned as he sucked her nipples in to his hot mouth, flicked them with his tongue. He smiled at the sound and moved up to kiss her lips again. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of this woman’s kisses – they were pure and sinful at the same time. Maria Torres was nothing less than the devil’s own temptation with an angel’s face.

“Dillon?”

“Hmmm?”

“How long has it been for you?” Maria looked a bit nervous to hear his answer. “Since you had sex?”

“You may not believe this, but it’s been longer for me than it’s been for you.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Shut up!”

“Truth. I haven’t been with anyone in almost two years.”

“
Why
?” she said, baffled. “
How
?”

“I told you, baby, I don’t do casual and since starting to work at Dangerous Curves, I’ve been surrounded by women who want nothing
but
casual. It just ain’t my scene and even though I love my job, I’m not about to get all mixed up with the bar patrons or the regulars. My boss Jax did that for years – went in to the back rooms and fucked anything in a short skirt – and I’ve seen how it’s come back to bite him in the ass since. Thank God his girlfriend Sarah’s understanding about his past, ‘cause lots of women would have a hard time getting past that kind of history.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“So when I say that I’m horny as hell, you better believe it’s true, Maria.” His eyes flared. “I want to be with you so bad, it’s actually physical pain.”

“You got some… did you buy…” Her voice trailed off as embarrassment moved in her chest. “Some condoms?”

“Yep. I have some and we’ll go through every single one of ‘em when we’re ready.” His hand disappeared under the water again and traced the lips of her pussy tenderly. “When you can take me without me hurting you.”

“I wish we could open that box right now,” she said.

“No, we wait.” He circled her clit and she gasped again. “We’ll try tomorrow, OK? After the wedding?”

“OK,” she said.

“So tonight we take it easy.” He stood up and she watched as the water ran over his chiseled body. His massive cock was erect and she longed to take it in to her body, as deep and hard as he could thrust. He was going to feel incredible, she just knew it. “We get some sleep and then tomorrow we stay up all night.”

She accepted his extended hand and got to her feet carefully. “
All
night?”

“Hell, yeah, baby.
All. Night. Long
.”

Chapter Eleven

Jake and Julie’s wedding day dawned clear and sunny, the never-ending blue sky almost cloudless above the Rockies. Julie and Tammy were up at the Big House and Jake had stayed with Phil and Vicky the night before. Jake texted Julie when he woke up, checking on how she felt. He was worried that her morning sickness was going to make it hard for her to get up and ready for the wedding.

Julie smiled at her cell and glanced up at Tammy. “He’s asking about my morning sickness.”

“Aww. Romantic.” Tammy sipped her coffee. “You gonna tell him you yakked for twenty minutes?”

“Maybe not. I’m OK now, right?”

“Yeah. Toast with butter and peanut butter is kind of miraculous.”

“Well, I did notice that you ate three pieces yourself.”

“You’re damned right I did. Nobody’s going to be looking at
me
today, sweetie, so I can burst out of my dress if I want to. No pressure for the rest of us, since all eyes will be on
you
.”

Julie thought about her baby bump. “They sure will be.”

“OK.” Tammy poured herself a second cup of coffee. “In to the shower with you. Claire will be here in two hours to do your hair and makeup, then I’ll get you dressed.”

“Oh, God, Tammy.” Julie was standing stock-still and the look on her face scared Tammy to death.

“What?” Tammy said, terrified that something was wrong with the baby somehow. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I just realized – I’m marrying Jake in about four hours.”

Tammy relaxed. “You are.”

“It’s for real.”

“It is.”

“Oh, God.”

“Is that a good kind of ‘Oh, God’ or is it an ‘I need you to bring the get-away car around’ kind of ‘Oh, God’?”

“It’s good.” Julie’s eyes were brimming with tears. “It’s very,
very
good.”

Tammy hugged her friend and the two women broke in to helpless laughter.

“Good that it’s good.” Tammy grinned and Julie grinned back. “Now, upstairs. We’ve got to get you ready to marry that amazing man.”

**

“Uncle Jake?”

Jake turned away from the incredible view from Phil and Vicky’s kitchen window to look at Sonia. “Yeah, honey?”

“Is it OK if I wear a flower headband at your wedding?”

“Sure it is,” he said, amused. “You got one?”

“Yeah.” The little girl’s dark eyes – so much like her mother’s – stared up at him seriously. “Uncle Eric said that if I brought a regular old headband to him, he could add some flowers. Mommy gave it to him yesterday and he said it’s ready now. But is it OK that I wear it?”

“Of course,” Jake said. “You’re our flower girl, aren’t you? So I think you need flowers in your hair.”

“Is Aunt Julie wearing flowers in her hair?”

“I have no idea,” Jake said. “She didn’t want me to see her dress or know anything at all about how she’ll look.”

“Ah,” Sonia said sagely, nodding. “Women’s secrets.”

Jake blinked down at her. “Uh. I guess.”

“Well, we all have them,” Sonia said in a world-weary tone.

“You have some?” Jake asked, wondering what the hell an eight-year-old classified as a ‘woman’s secret’.

“Yep.” She gave him a stern look. “But I won’t tell you!”

“I totally wouldn’t expect you to,” said Jake. He heard footsteps now and he turned to see Sonia’s Mom, Vicky, come in to the room.

“Morning, Jake.” She spotted the coffee and sighed happily. “Fresh coffee.”

“Yep.”

“Thanks,” Vicky said, running a slim hand through her red-gold hair. It was the exact same color as Julie’s, but while Jake’s wife-to-be had a mass of unruly curls, Vicky Thompson’s hair was sleek and shiny. “Sonia, have you had breakfast?”

“Uncle Jake made me toast and fruit salad.”

“Good. That’ll hold you until the dinner.”

Phil wandered in to the kitchen now, gave Vicky a kiss. “Hi, babe.”

“Hi,” she said and held up the coffee pot. “Want me to pour you one?”

“Please. And in a travel mug, OK?” He turned to Jake with a big grin. “So! How you feeling, man? Nervous?”

“Not about marrying Julie, I’m not.” Jake drank some more coffee. “But I
am
a bit nervous about my Mom.”

“Why?” Vicky said.

“Well, she’s… spirited.”

Three sets of eyes studied him.

“What’s that mean?” Sonia asked. “Spirited?”

“Well, my Mom is very – enthusiastic about weddings. She enjoys them very,
very
much.”

“You mean she dances on tables?” Sonia said.

“Actually, hon, yes she does.”

“
Really
?” Sonia looked delighted. “Can I do that too?”

“Uh, no.” Vicky was trying hard to look severe and failing pretty miserably. “We’ll dance on the floor, OK?”

“What else does she do?” Sonia asked, interested now. “Besides dancing on tables?”

“Oh, well… lots of things.” Jake ran his large hand through his dark hair. “She’s promised to give a speech about me.”

“Oooh,” Vicky said. “Now
that
sounds interesting.”

“Yeah, it will be, for sure,” Jake said. “Maybe a bit
too
interesting.”

“Aha,” Phil said. “Well, their plane lands in an hour, so I’d better get going.”

“Thanks, man,” Jake said.

“Sure.” Phil grabbed his coffee and grinned down at Sonia. “So sweetie, you gonna wear flowers in your hair?”

“Yep,” Sonia squealed. “Uncle Jake said it’s OK.”

“Well, of course he did.” Phil gave the little girl an affectionate tickle on the back of her neck on his way to the door and she wriggled away, laughing. “He knows how important flowers are.”

Vicky smiled at Jake and he returned it. Sometimes he looked at Vicky and just couldn’t believe that this gorgeous, glowing woman was the same one who’d shown up at Open Skies two years before, on the run from her brutally-abusive husband.

The Vicky of back then was literally a hunted woman and she’d behaved like one, despite her best efforts to hide it. She’d flinched every time a man had come near her, she’d worn baggy and ugly clothes to avoid attracting attention, she’d hidden the existence of her daughter from everyone.

The first person to break through all her defences had been Phil. The man had a hard, violent past, but he was now one of the most upright and honest people Jake had ever known. He loved Vicky fiercely and he’d stood by her when her husband had found her and she’d shot him after a horrible beating. She’d done all her community service and she’d stood up in court and testified against her husband: Carl Thompson was now languishing in jail, and he would be for the next two years.

The Vicky of today was a bright and beautiful woman who loved and was loved deeply in return. Phil loved Sonia too, and although she’d been hesitant around him at first – not surprising, considering that Carl had abused her too – Phil had been patient. She now adored him, thought the sun rose and set on him, and they were a family.

“OK, I promised Maria I’d get there a bit early and help set things up,” Vicky said. “You’ll bring Sonia in about two hours?”

“Of course.” Jake winked at Sonia and she giggled. “We’ll be there.”

“Then I’m off.” Vicky picked up her dress still in its dry-cleaning plastic and a bag with her shoes, jewelry and makeup. “I’ll see you two soon.”

“Bye!” Sonia jumped in to her mother’s arms for a kiss.

“Love you, Sweet Pea. You be a good girl, yeah?”

“Yes,” Sonia said. “I’ll make sure Uncle Jake eats breakfast and has no dirt on his suit and that his hair isn’t messy.”

“Yeah, I’ll need help with all of that,” Jake said.

“Especially your hair.” Sonia put her hands on her hips. “You never brush it properly.”

“No?” Jake said.

“No. I’ll take care of it.”

“Then I’m in good hands.” Jake grinned down at her, wondering if this is what life would be like with a daughter. “You’ll get me there looking great, right?”

“Yes. You won’t look as good as Aunt Julie, but you’ll look good. I mean, good for you. Good enough.”

The two adults burst in to laughter.

“Well, good enough is good enough for me,” Jake said. “Julie’ll marry me anyway.”

“She will,” Sonia agreed. “That’s what love is.”