Chapter Twenty

Reggie waited until Josh closed the door and sat down at the table before coming out of her spot in the hall. She saw the pain on his face, the slouch in his shoulders. Reggie knew she’d been the one to take a beating, but she thought maybe Josh’s pain was a little higher on the scale. Walking over, she put a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes, looking up at her. Aching emotion swirled in them. She’d give anything to be able to take it away. Not even because of how kind he’d been to her tonight, but just because she cared about him. Leaning forward, Reggie winced before pressing her lips to his forehead, offering what comfort she could.

Josh sighed, putting his hand over hers. “You should be in bed.”

Reggie stood up, curling her fingers in his. “I’m a light sleeper.”

He nodded. “You heard.”

She shrugged, wincing from the pain that shot through her shoulder. “Not something I meant to do, but sort of hard to miss.”

Kissing her hand, Josh stood up. “Come on. You can relax on the couch. I’ll grab us a drink.”

He guided her over, still being strong even when Reggie could feel the pain rolling off him. She wondered how he’d done it for years, but then, seeing the pictures of the smiling kids in the living room, she knew. Josh would do anything for his kids, even turn away the woman who should be their mother. Even if they’d hate him for it later.

Reggie relaxed in the cushions, leaning her head back, trying to find a comfortable position. Josh disappeared into the kitchen.

“We fell in love in high school,” Josh said.

She turned her head, looking over. She only saw part of him as he moved around, grabbing glasses and a bottle.

“We were the original high school sweethearts. I was the jock. She was the cheerleader.” He walked back in, handing Reggie a glass as he sat next to her. “We didn’t intend to have sex the first time. By that, I mean it wasn’t planned. It just sort of happened in the heat of the moment.”

Reggie sipped the amber liquid, the heat of it warming her belly. “She got pregnant.”

“Yep.” Josh swirled the liquid in his glass. “We were scared, didn’t know what to do. I wanted her to have an abortion, but Sonja...well, she wanted to have them. Put them up for adoption.”

Reggie tried to step into their shoes, think about how terrifying it must have been to be so young in a situation like that. “But you kept them.”

Josh nodded, smiling as if lost in a fond memory. “When I saw them, they were mine. I was their father and if we gave them up, I wouldn’t know who had them or if they were okay. I knew I had to protect them. So, I asked Sonja to marry me.“ He paused, taking a large swig of the whiskey.

Sensing his discomfort, Reggie reached over, putting a hand on his arm. “Guess she said yes?”

“Yeah, she did.” His gaze stayed on her hand. “And for a while, things were good.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “But I don’t know. She started to resent not leaving town I guess. Resent me, the kids. Started staying out late nights.”

Reggie squeezed his arm, not wanting him to have to relive any more than was necessary. “I get it.”

He rubbed his thumb over his lip, wiping away the moisture from the whiskey. “I tried to get her help. Believed she’d get better, that we could be a family.”

“Until you found Emma with the crack pipe,” Reggie finished for him.

“Jesus, these really are thin walls,” he smiled at her. “But yeah. After that—I couldn’t let her be near the kids.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

He finished the whiskey. “Yeah, me too,” Josh said, setting the empty glass on the table. Leaning back against the cushions, he laced his fingers behind his head, making Reggie drop her hand in her lap. “What about you?”

She tilted her head, confused. “Me?”

He looked over at her. “When I grabbed your duffel, a sonogram fell out of it.”

Every muscle in Reggie’s body tensed, her gaze narrowing at him. Instinctively, her hand went to her belly, finger resting against the scar to ease a phantom pain that never really went away. “Oh…”

She must not have tucked it in very well the last time she looked at it. No one bothered her things in the bunkhouse and she hadn’t expected to get her ass handed to her. Reggie wanted to be pissed at Josh for finding out, but he wasn’t the type of guy who would go out of his way to snoop. He was the kind of guy who went out of his way to protect the people he loved—and she couldn’t be upset with him.

Reggie didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say. The air thickened with tension between them at her silence. The hits kept coming tonight and her pain shot up to meet Josh’s.

He must have sensed her discomfort.

“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have pried.”

Her breath moved slowly and controlled. She kept her gaze on the blank screen of the TV and tried to keep her mind just as blank, separated from the sporadic memories of the most horrific night of her life.

“Her name was Sophie,” Reggie said, voice trembling. “For the three minutes she was alive. Her name was Sophie.”

The image of the angelic, plump baby face came into her mind. She’d been so beautiful. Reggie had never seen anything that came close in comparison.

“I’m so sorry.” He sat up, giving her his full attention.

“I know how to take a punch because I’ve taken them before,” Reggie said. “When you survive something terrible, you either learn to not be a victim again, or become consumed by it.”

His brows furrowed together, the pain she felt inside being mimicked in his eyes. Reggie tried to give him a reassuring smile, but she didn’t have it in her. Shaking her head, she sipped her whiskey, trying to fight back the memories.

“Hey.” Josh put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. “It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything else.”

She leaned into the embrace, letting the warmth emanating off him envelope her. Closing her eyes, she tried to fight back the tears, but they slipped through anyway. Josh hummed softly to her, his voice soothing, chasing away ghosts Reggie could never get rid of on her own. She didn’t know what it was about Josh, or why he had this effect on her, but it’d been so long since she’d felt any comfort on this level. The only physical comfort she sought for the last three years was in the arms of one-night stands, and most mornings she was gone before they woke up. She’d only known Josh a week and Reggie knew she’d have no problem wanting to stay the morning after.

Using his thumb, he wiped her tears before kissing her forehead. “I’m sorry I dredged up bad memories.”

She chuckled bitterly. “Those memories are always there. Tonight, they’re just a little closer to the surface.”

“Because of the fight?”

“Yeah.” She adjusted her cheek against his shoulder. “For one.”

Tilting her head up, she stared into his hazel eyes, wanting to do more than just be near him. Reggie wanted him to be in her, moving, thrusting, driving deep into her core to drive away the memories that danced in her mind. She didn’t want to think anymore, just feel.

Reggie jerked forward, grabbing Josh’s shirt and pressing her lips against his. A mix of pleasure of the feel of him and pain from her injuries coursed through her. She embraced it, letting the physical feelings push away everything else. Josh’s lips stilled for a moment, before his hand slid through her hair, gripping the back of her head. He moaned against her lips, kissing her with vigor.

She slid her hands under his shirt, fingers finding those muscles she’d been aching to touch all week. The man’s abs were toned and muscular—just the way Reggie liked them. She wanted to taste more, feel more of him, but he grabbed her hands.

“Reggie, wait.”

Pulling back, she looked up at him, confused. His eyes had darkened with lust and his lips were swollen. She could tell he wanted her, but the man had a way of stopping things just as they were getting started and it was getting on her nerves. “What? What’s wrong?”

He sighed. Letting go of her hands, he slid his fingers to the back of her neck, massaging. “You’re hurt, and I just took you down a traumatic memory rabbit hole—“

“Don’t.” She held her finger to his lips. “I don’t want to think. Yeah, I’ve got a few bruised ribs, but I’ve also got ibuprofen and whiskey. As long as you don’t plan on screwing me through a wall, I’m willing to take the risk.”

Smirking, he kissed her finger. “You make a good argument.”

Reggie dropped her hand to his chest. “Please, Josh.” She rested her forehead against his. “I’ve wanted you for so long—“

He groaned, and Reggie could feel his erection beneath his jeans. “Woman, you’re going to drive me insane. Do you know how many cold showers I’ve had since I’ve met you?”

She grinned, imagining him under the spray of cold water, touching himself while fantasizing about her. “Well, tonight you won’t need one.”

“You’re right about that,” Josh said. He pulled her to him, kissing her again, before he lifted Reggie into his arms. Reggie wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood up and took them both into the bedroom.

Josh laid Reggie down on the bed, careful of her injuries. He wanted her more than he could put into words, but he knew sex would be too harsh for her right now. Laying next to her, Josh slid his hand over the fabric of her shirt, playing with the hem, until his fingers slid beneath it, finding the smooth skin beneath. Reggie shivered, closing her eyes, arching her back. He saw the pain on her face and leaned over, kissing her. “Just relax, cher. You ain’t got to do nothin’ but relax.”

She opened her eyes, looking at him with uncertainty. Smiling, he moved over her and kissed her again, moving his lips lower, along her jawline, his hand playing with the hem of her sweats. Groaning, she let her head fall back and wiggled her hips. His erection strained even more at the sight of her moving, writhing, next to him. He forced himself to keep control, the sinews of his muscles vibrating with the exertion.

“Josh.” His name came out of her mouth in a deep, husky tone filled with need.

Making sure to be easy, he lifted the shirt over her head, holding Reggie’s gaze. Bruises littered her ribs and belly. He kissed each of them with a gentle caress, as if he could make them better. She ran her fingers through his hair, watching him, gaze going from needy to vulnerable.

Gently, he removed her sweats and panties and then moved to his knees, admiring the view. Even with the bruises—Josh lost his breath over her. Everything about her was beautiful. He couldn’t imagine a better view as she laid beneath him, her dark eyes looking up at him with need, and maybe a hint of vulnerability.

“You’re gorgeous.” Grinning, he dipped down, letting his kisses flow down until he found her core.

Crying out, she arched her back, thrusting her pussy closer to his lips. She tasted like primal need, like everything Josh had been missing in his life. The sounds that fell from her lips as she closed her eyes, gripping the sheets—he knew as he rolled that sweet nub beneath his tongue and slid his fingers into her that he could send her over the edge, and he wanted to. This way was pleasurable without hurting her. He was hard as a rock, but he could wait until she was well. Until her body didn’t hurt and he could drive himself into her full force. When her muscles could wrap around his cock, tightening and giving him the release he needed, but Josh knew that right now, this was what she needed.

Reggie needed to forget, to be lost in pleasure. Something told Josh no one had taken care of her in a long time. He knew in a few days she would be gone, but as she writhed on the bed, nipples hard, the taste of her sating him on a level he couldn’t express—Josh wanted to hear her scream in pleasure. He kept his eyes tilted up, admiring the way she moved beneath his touch, every inch of her smooth flesh. Sliding another finger in her, he stroked, finding that sweet spot as his tongue worked her. Wrapping his other hand around her hip, he pulled her closer, ensuring she couldn’t get away from him, not when he knew she was so close.

“Josh!” She wiggled against him, deepening his taste of her.

“Fuck Reggie,” he said. “You taste so good.”

“Put your mouth where it belongs!”

Chuckling, he licked her clit, worked her with his fingers, and when she came, the taste rushed in his mouth, and her pleasurable cries drove him insane. He wanted to do so much more to her, but for now, this would have to do.

Josh kissed his way back up her body until he found her lips. Making sure not to put any weight on her, he kissed her softly. She slid her arms around him, nails raking lightly across his flesh. He shuddered, closing his eyes. “Knock it off.” He nipped at her lip. “You need rest.”

Reggie squinted her eyes. “Are you telling me you don’t want reciprocation?”

He laughed, and it came out wrapped in liquid desire. “You have no idea how much I want to bury myself in you right now.” Brushing his fingers through her hair, Josh kissed her softly.

She nibbled on his lip for a moment before pulling back. “Then do it.”

He groaned, the need to feel her wrapped around him making his cock ache with desire. “You’re hurt.”

She rolled her eyes. “They’re bruises and cracked ribs. I’m sore, not broken.”

“You’re sure?”

Instead of answering, she twisted, pushing him on his back before straddling him. She pulled at the elastic on his shorts, snapping it lightly against his skin. “These need to go.”

Josh didn’t argue. She lifted her hips just enough for him to shimmy out of the clothes that kept them separated. She gripped him before the fabric fell off his feet and he gasped, arching his back as his hands slid over her thighs. She grinned and said in a husky voice. “Condom?”

He reached out with one hand, fumbling in the side table before pulling out a small blue foil. She took it from him and leaned down gently, careful of her ribs, kissing him as she tore the package open. Josh didn’t know how she managed to do it, but he felt her roll the condom over the length of him and guide his shaft inside of her in one fell swoop. She lowered herself down until there was nothing left between them. He groaned into her mouth, gripping her ass. This woman drove him insane, and he never wanted this feeling to go away.

Every one of Reggie’s nerve endings purged the pain that had been coursing through her body, filling with pleasure in its wake as Josh buried himself inside of her. It chased away the darkness of earlier, giving her something good to hold onto. She moved her hips, urging him to give her more, to drive her over the edge.

He chuckled against her ear. “Easy, cher. I don’t intend to let this be done so quick.”

Dear God, he was going to make Reggie lose her mind.

Sitting up, she ignored the pain in her ribs and put a hand on his stomach. She tilted her head back and moved up and down, letting his shaft drive deep inside of her. She let the feeling consume her as her hands slid over his chest, feeling his taught muscles and sun-kissed skin. She wanted to learn every outline and groove of his body, lick every inch until she knew what every part of him tasted like.

Reggie used her thighs, letting them burn as the tension mounted deep inside her. She rotated her hips. A zap of pain rushed through her side, and not in a kinky way. She gasped, putting a hand to her ribs.

Josh stilled beneath her. “Reggie?”

“I’m okay,” she whispered as the pain faded. “Just moved the wrong way.”

Without pulling out of her, Josh twisted them, easing her down on her back, the mattress soft beneath her. He grinned and kissed her, his cock twitching inside of her, coaxing the pleasure back.

“Then let me do all the hard work,” he said.

“God yes!” She wanted Josh to ram himself inside of her, balancing that precocious line of pleasure and pain.

He held himself up on his elbows above her, and his lips found hers in a gentle kiss that made her heart thud. It was strange to Reggie, having a man willing to take care of her. Most of her one-night stands were about getting off and getting gone, but the way Josh touched her, the way his kisses left a trail of heat on her neck, and his hands caressed her skin—he was looking for ways to please her. Jesus, she hadn’t felt so on fire since before she’d been pregnant. Something about him ignited a passion in Reggie she’d thought she’d lost forever.

Reggie hooked her legs around his muscular ass, pulling him deeper inside. He groaned, one hand moving to caress her breast, thumb rolling over her nipple. The nub hardened without much coaxing and he kissed her again. His arms quivered around her, and Reggie knew he was holding back. She didn’t want him to.

“Josh,” she moaned. “Harder.”

He stilled above her. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She grinned, trailing her fingers down his back. “Trust me, baby. That’s not gonna happen.”

His eyes flashed with hunger and Reggie knew he wanted it as much as she did.

Josh changed his angle and thrust into her without holding back. His balls smacked against her and she groaned, lifting her hips to meet him. Their skin slapped together, sweat sheening their bodies. Each stroke sheathed him to the hilt inside her and Reggie felt her muscles tightening around him, reluctant to let go, as if he might not come back, but he always did.

The pleasure exploded in a wave of ecstasy as she screamed out his name. He moaned and thrust again, quivering as he found his own release. His cock was hot inside her, and Reggie didn’t want him to move, but he rolled to the side, making sure to keep his weight off her.

Reggie knew she would be ten times sorer later, but as the remnants of the orgasm lingered through her lethargic muscles, she just didn’t give a damn. The aura of bliss still clung to her and she closed her eyes, chest heaving from the exertion.

“You’re really good at sex.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. Her brain had practically shut off. Which is exactly what she wanted, but somehow Josh had produced more, given her something else. Passion, she realized. The desire to have more than just a quick fuck.

He barked out a laugh. “You’re not so bad yourself.” Leaning over, he kissed her, his hand caressing her face. “I’ll be right back.”

Reggie watched him get up and go to the bathroom through half-lidded eyes. Between the attack and then the sex, she was ready to sleep for a week. Josh came back and slid into bed, gently pulling Reggie into his arms.

“You doing okay, cher?”

“Better than okay.” She nestled her head against his shoulder, draping her arm over his chest. “Cher is starting to grow on me.”

“Well, I’m definitely glad it ain’t pissin’ you off none.”

Smiling, she let her eyes close and drifted to sleep by the lull of his heartbeat.