Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

June woke up and winced when the rising sun hit her eyes. She turned her head and slowly realized where she was . . . and what had happened the night before. She was sore between her legs, but it was the most delicious feeling. She was lying against Cal, her cheek on his chest, her arm around his belly. But something was different.

Lifting her head, she saw the difference immediately. She and Cal were completely naked this morning.

Looking at his face, she saw he was still asleep. No surprise. He woke her last night after what seemed like just minutes and reached for her in the dark. They’d stayed up late making love again, talking, and learning what the other liked when it came to erotic touches. June had orgasmed more than she ever had before, and yet she still wanted this man. It was almost a compulsion.

The covers had been kicked off them both, and when June ran her eyes down his body, she could see every inch. His cock was flaccid, but even soft, it was impressive.

But that wasn’t what caught her attention most, of course. It was the layers and layers of scars across nearly every inch of his body. She’d felt them the night before. How could she not when she’d run her hands all over him? But seeing them in the light of day made her fully understand for the first time the hell her man had lived through. Understand why he was reluctant to bare himself to her. Why he’d wanted the lights out.

But what he didn’t understand was that seeing his ruined flesh made her love him more, not less.

She felt no pity for Cal. No disgust. All she felt was an overwhelming sense of pride. He’d endured what would’ve broken most men. And he wasn’t broken, not even close. Bent, maybe, but definitely not broken.

She moved down his body, managing to get out of his hold without waking him and kneeling between his legs, much as she’d done the night before. She’d enjoyed taking him in her mouth. She wasn’t so sure about finishing him off that way, but she knew without having to think about it that he’d never force her to do so or anything else she didn’t want to do.

She began to play with his cock, lightly running a finger down the side, frowning when she saw the scars on his sensitive flesh. Pushing away the hatred for his captors that welled inside her, she concentrated on making him feel good.

Eventually, she took him into her mouth and sucked gingerly. It wasn’t long before he started to harden.

“June?” he croaked in a hoarse tone as he stirred. “What are you doing?”

“What does it feel like?” she countered.

He let her play for another minute or so before lunging, turning her away from him on her hands and knees. He ate her out from behind until she was dripping, then took her hard and fast.

It wasn’t until they were once more on their backs on the bed, and she was snuggled against his chest, that he seemed to realize how light it was in the room.

Cal tried to slip out of bed, but June moved before he could. She straddled his belly and frowned down at him. “No,” she said firmly.

“Let me up,” Cal said, not meeting her gaze.

“You see this?” she asked, swallowing down her uneasiness in a bid to make her man feel better.

His eyes went to where she was squeezing the extra flesh of her stomach.

“I’m fat. This is fat, and it’s ugly, but no matter how many sit-ups I do—which admittedly isn’t a lot—it won’t go away. And these?” she continued, holding her breasts in her hands. “They’re saggy. If I don’t wear a bra, it’ll look like they’re around my belly button, which, trust me, isn’t a good look. And this”—she pointed to her nose—“is too big.”

“Stop it,” Cal ordered.

“No. We’re all flawed,” she said.

He snorted. “The difference is that you’re lush. I’m horrific,” he told her, sounding utterly defeated.

“Bollocks,” she said angrily.

He stared up at her in surprise. Then his lips twitched. “Bollocks?” he echoed.

She shrugged. “I figured if I used one of your words, maybe it would sink in. Cal, you’re beautiful. No—don’t look away from me. I mean it. You know what I see when I look at your scars?”

“Hideousness?” he deadpanned.

June ignored him. “Courage. Bravery. Loyalty. Strength and a will that I can’t even imagine. You went through hell, and you’re still here. You’re a living, breathing example of how good can triumph over evil. I know you think your scars are a turnoff, but they’re not. Not for me.”

“I hate pity,” he told her.

“Good, because you aren’t getting any from me. You want to know what emotions I’m feeling right now, seeing you for the first time?”

He didn’t move under her. He was as still as stone.

“I’m furious. So damn angry that anyone felt they had the right to do this to you, I want to get on a plane and hunt them down.”

His lips twitched again, and June had never been as relieved as when she felt his hands grip her hips.

“I wouldn’t advise that. You wouldn’t like it over there. It’s hot. Really hot.”

“Whatever. I’d do it for you if I could. But anger aside, when I look at you, see you in the light, I remember all the things you did to me last night. How your hands felt, your tongue, your cock buried deep inside my body. You turn me on more than anyone I’ve ever met, Cal. Your scars aren’t the sum of you; they’ve simply helped make you into the man you are today. A man who I want more than I want to breathe. A man who makes me smile. Who makes me feel safe. Who I trust. Who makes me want to put all my worries and fears aside and jump with him into the great unknown.”

June was speaking too fast, but she needed Cal to understand. To truly get that she didn’t give one little hoot about his scars.

He stared up at her for so long, she began to feel uncomfortable. She was sitting on his lap naked, after all, which wasn’t something she fully enjoyed.

“You sore?” he asked.

June frowned. That wasn’t what she’d expected him to say after her little speech. Not even close. “What?”

“Are you sore?” he repeated. “Because I need you again. Right now.”

“But we just . . .” June’s words dropped off when Cal pushed her backward a bit on his thighs, reached between his legs and stroked his now hard and ready-to-go cock. “Um . . . no?”

“I know I’m being an arsehole, but I have to be inside you, June. Right this second. In the light. Where I can watch my cock thrusting into your pussy.”

He was talking dirty again, but since it turned June on even more, she didn’t complain. She lifted up, and Cal ran the mushroom head of his cock between her folds. She did her best not to wince as he entered, because truthfully, she was sore. But Cal needed her, and she’d always give herself to him.

She sighed deeply when he was all the way inside her body.

“This is gonna be fast,” he muttered, not taking his eyes from between her legs.

“Okay,” she said.

And it was. But Cal didn’t forget to make sure she felt just as much pleasure as he did. He thrust into her from below, watching his cock disappear again and again, all while using his thumb on her clit. By the time they’d both come again, she felt boneless.

“It’s a good thing it’s Sunday,” she said, her words slurring a bit.

“Sleep, princess,” Cal ordered, kissing her temple.

“Will you stay with me for a while?” she asked, clutching Cal’s arms. She felt sweaty and wanted a shower, but she was too tired and replete to move.

“Yeah.”

That was all she needed to hear to let go. To fall asleep again, happier than she’d been in her entire life.

Cal watched June sleep. He couldn’t believe he was lying there, completely naked in the light of day, with a woman cuddled up against him.

He’d been terrified when he’d finally come to his senses and realized June could see every inch of his body. He’d been too distracted at first, waking up with her mouth on his cock, to understand that it was morning, and his body was on display. It wasn’t until they were once again nestled in each other’s arms that he came to his senses.

He’d never actually intended for June to see him. Had planned to keep the lights off in bed for as long as they were together. But he’d screwed that up from the get-go, obviously.

Once again, he was surprised by her anger on his behalf. He genuinely believed that if she knew how to get to the men who’d hurt him, she’d go after them. They were long since dead, killed in the raid to free him and his friends, but her need for vengeance on his behalf felt . . . good.

June was so different from any woman he’d ever known. He couldn’t get the image out of his head of her astride him, pointing out what she saw as her own flaws . . . as if that would make him feel better about his ravaged flesh. As far as Cal was concerned, June was a goddess. He’d take her tits and stomach and all the other things she didn’t like about herself over his scars any day.

She shifted in his arms, and Cal grinned. She was a right mess . . . but he only smiled wider at the thought. He’d made her that way. And he couldn’t help but be pleased.

He hadn’t missed her slight flinch as he’d penetrated her, though, and he made a mental note to take it easy on her for a while. He hated that he’d hurt her, and the fact that she’d understood he needed to be inside her that last time made him love her all the more.

Love.

Bloody hell.

He’d fallen for her so fast. Almost from the first moment he saw her in DC. Had already admitted his feelings to JJ, and knew the rest of his mates could see it as well. But . . . he couldn’t keep this woman. She was destined for bigger and better things than living with a damaged man.

Despite that fact, he couldn’t bring himself to pull away from her. Now that he’d seen the passion within her, had experienced it for himself . . . he couldn’t let go. Not yet.

He’d wait until she was on her feet. Until she’d saved up enough money to make it on her own. And he’d figure out a way to pad her bank account further, if at all possible. Lord knew, he had more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime. She had a lot of pride, though, and he didn’t want to belittle her or make her feel as if he didn’t think she could take care of herself.

How long Cal lay in bed, holding a sleeping June, he had no idea. But eventually his bladder made itself known. He needed to get up, make breakfast, and start the ball rolling on investigating her stepmother and stepsister. The last thing he wanted was the pair of them rearing their ugly heads in their lives again. But he had a sinking feeling JJ was right. Carla wasn’t going to give up on being a princess so easily.

He just prayed they would simply be a nuisance and nothing more dangerous.

Slipping out from under June’s body, he smiled when she protested in her sleep. Cal remained next to his bed, staring down at her for a full minute. She was gorgeous, and all his . . . for the moment.

He straightened the sheet that had been kicked to the end of the bed and pulled it over her before leaning down and kissing her temple once more.

He strode to the loo, grabbing some clothes along the way. Hesitating over the T-shirt drawer, Cal surprised himself by selecting a short-sleeved Jack’s Lumber shirt instead of one of the many long-sleeved shirts he normally wore. He wasn’t about to start wearing shorts and parading himself around town anytime soon, but seeing the small teeth marks from her bite on his skin made him smile. Yes, his scars would be visible, but he’d ignore those as best he could and concentrate on the memories from last night instead.

Tim Dotson picked up the burner phone he’d bought before driving north to Maine and dialed the only stored number.

“You better have good news for me,” the woman on the other end said in lieu of a greeting.

“Happy Sunday to you too, Elaine,” he drawled.

“Whatever. I’m fucking hungry. I had to make my own breakfast, which burned. It’s not a good morning,” she growled. “Now tell me you have news.”

“I have news,” Tim echoed, grinning.

“Talk,” Elaine ordered.

“She’s here, like you thought. And she and the prince seemed mighty chummy last night.”

“Damn it!” Elaine swore. “What happened?”

“Well, word from the locals is that they went to a friend’s wedding yesterday. Up in the woods somewhere. They were smiling at each other and seemed to be getting along just fine when they came back into town.” He wasn’t stalking the chick, as Elaine assumed. It was sheer dumb luck that he happened to be leaving Granny’s when the prince’s sweet ride paused at a light. He could see the couple making cow eyes at each other, oblivious to anyone around them.

“No! That can’t happen! Please tell me you did something,” Elaine begged.

“Of course, I did,” Tim lied. This was the first call of many that would make his pockets a little fuller. “While they were partying it up, I went to the prince’s house and left a little present for your darling daughter.”

“Stepdaughter,” Elaine corrected immediately. “What was it? Did she see it? Was she scared?”

“Just a little note. I don’t want to start out too strong right out of the gate. It just said she needed to watch herself. Implied that since Carla’s admirer couldn’t get to her, he might wanna play with her sister a little while first.”

Elaine cackled, and Tim couldn’t help but shake his head in a mixture of amusement and disgust. He wasn’t the most upstanding man in the world, but he honestly didn’t understand this bitch’s need to terrorize the stepdaughter she’d lived with for nearly two decades.

“Oh, I wish I could’ve seen her face—and the prince’s—when they realized Carla wasn’t lying about having a stalker.”

Tim rolled his eyes but didn’t interrupt.

“Okay, this is good. You need to leave another note. Maybe something that says he’s thinking he chose the wrong sister. That he has to sample the pussy the prince apparently can’t resist.”

Tim nearly scoffed. This woman was crazy. That wouldn’t make the bitch run back to DC. From what he understood about the dynamics of Elaine’s family and the relationship between Carla and her stepsister, it would probably just push the chick further into the protective arms of the new boyfriend.

He didn’t let his skepticism bleed into his voice as he said, “Sounds good. But first . . . we need to talk about payment. You said for everything I left, I’d get a C-note.”

“Right. And you will. But I need proof. How do I know you aren’t conning me?”

The old broad was just as stupid as he’d thought. “I’m not,” he lied. “But to prove it, I took a picture of the note on the prince’s door so you can see it.” He’d taped a folded piece of blank paper to his own door for the picture, but Elaine wouldn’t know that.

She laughed again. “This is going to work out perfectly. I just know it. When I get your proof, I’ll send the money via that app we talked about.”

“I’ll shoot it over as soon as we’re done talking,” Tim assured her.

“So more notes, then what? A dead animal next?” Elaine asked.

“Sure,” Tim agreed, his mind already going to where he might find something dead to photograph. He supposed he could find some critter along the road that was struck by a car.

Elaine cackled again. “Good. I hope that ungrateful bitch is terrified out of her mind. But more importantly, we need to make sure the prince feels guilty for doubting my Carla. I’ll hire a makeup artist to make it look like she has a black eye or something. A parting gift before her stalker went to Maine. That second-rate royal, the prince’s cousin, will run straight to Prince Redmon the second he sees it, and he’ll be back down here to protect her before we can blink.”

“Right,” Tim said, trying to keep the disbelief out of his tone. From what he’d heard about Cal Redmon, the man was smart. He may be a recluse and living in a rinky-dink town like Newton, but he wasn’t stupid. He was a Special Forces soldier, for shit’s sake. He’d seen through Elaine’s ruse in less than two days. The old broad was delusional, and none of her ideas made any sense. But as long as he kept getting paid, she could think whatever she wanted.

Nope. In his opinion, the guy wouldn’t be returning to DC anytime soon, especially if he suspected Juniper Rose was in danger. Not that he had a clue. No. Tim wouldn’t be alerting anyone to his presence before he took out the stepdaughter. In the meantime, the prince could keep right on fucking her, blissfully unaware.

Fat chicks weren’t Tim’s thing, but he supposed pussy was pussy, especially living in such a small town. The prince was probably just getting his dick wet while he could. Tim would wait a little bit, until it looked like maybe he was done with the broad, before offing her to get his big payday from Elaine.

He felt downright magnanimous, giving the prince time to get laid and dump the bitch before Tim killed her.

“Oh! And Carla had an idea . . .”

Tim listened with a smirk as Elaine told him a story about a prank Carla had played on her stepsister when she was younger. It wasn’t a bad idea, but he’d have to give it some thought. He might even be able to use it to kill the broad, but there would have to be a way to get much closer to the bitch to make Elaine’s suggestion work.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he told her.

“Good. We’ll talk soon. I can’t wait to see the picture—and to see what else you come up with.”

“As long as I get the money you promised, she’ll be terrified out of her mind,” Tim told her.

“Knowing she’s dead and can’t ever steal Carla’s man again can’t happen too soon for me,” Elaine seethed.

Tim actually shivered. Up until now, he’d seen this job as a walk in the park. But hearing the crazy in Elaine’s voice made him second-guess his opinion of her intelligence for the first time.

It was too late to back out now. He was too involved. He had no money to get back to DC, to his normal life. He had to keep going.

Mentally shrugging, he decided it didn’t matter if the bitch died. She was fat and ugly. No one would miss her when she kicked the bucket.

Ready to get off the phone with the crazy old broad, Tim abruptly said goodbye and clicked off the connection. He emailed the picture he’d taken of the “note” he’d supposedly left on the prince’s door and took a deep breath.

After smoking a joint, he sat in his rented room and sighed. He needed to figure out a way to get closer to his target. It was always better to befriend people before killing them, because that way, they weren’t as suspicious. He could surprise them. Having to break into a house was a pain in the ass. He much preferred to be let in voluntarily or to have his target let their guard down because he was the last person they thought would hurt them.

This job wasn’t turning out to be as easy as he’d hoped. The money was good—that was the only reason he’d taken it. All he had to do was continue to agree with whatever Elaine said, keep fake-stalking her stepdaughter, and keep the money train rolling. There would come a time when he’d need to do more than take pictures of notes and dead animals, but until then, he’d ride this out as long as he could.

When the time came, he’d take care of the stepdaughter, get his big payout, and head south to a warmer climate.