-HINDLEY-
I leaned my head against Rory’s chest as we cuddled on my couch. He tucked me into his side as we stared at the television, watching nothing in particular. “Thank you for taking me to my appointments today.”
“My pleasure, Miss Hagen.” He stroked my upper arm.
“You know, you don’t have to take me to every one of them. Dana and my mom are available too.” I cut my eyes up at him.
His head cocked to one side with a raised brow, silently telling me I needed to accept his help and not push him away.
“Sorry. I meant to say, thank you.”
He kissed the top of my head and lifted the remote to change the channel.
This felt so right, just being with him, doing nothing at all.
“And thank you for my Hello Kitty house shoes.” I wiggled my feet that were propped on the coffee table. The little kitten’s whiskers fluttered.
“My pleasure,” he said in a low tone.
God, the way he said ‘pleasure’ made my knees weak. It had been over a month since we’d made love and I was about to explode with need.
Rory was living with me in Austin as I recovered, putting his own tour on hold to take care of me. He drove me to every doctor’s and wound care appointment, cooked for me, and even cleaned my entire house.
It was hard to accept his help, really hard, but it had been a good challenge for me. His support forced me to question the thoughts in my head that said, “You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You don’t deserve to be happy and you never will be.” Slowly but surely, with the help of those I loved, I was beginning to believe I did deserve better. The only thing I missed was his intimate touch.
“And thank you for the Hello Kitty pajamas, and the Hello Kitty watch.” I held up my wrist, trying to ignore the wounds on my forearm that were healing nicely.
The surgeon on call at the ER the day I was admitted was a plastic surgeon and had done an amazing job. He felt like the scarring would be minimal. But, I didn’t care. Any scars left behind would always be a reminder that it was okay to lean on other people, that I couldn’t control my future, and that I always had to be honest with those I loved, no matter how much I thought it would hurt them—or me.
“What about your Hello Kitty panties?” He waggled his brows.
Rory had given me a box full of Hello Kitty paraphernalia when I’d gotten home from the hospital, including socks, a watch, slippers, pajamas, even oven mitts. But the most creative item had been the Hello Kitty days-of-the-week panties.
“Where in the world did you find them?”
“I’ll never tell.” He laughed.
God, that laugh. A spark ran through my mid-section and I was pretty sure I’d have to go change into my Friday panties soon if he kept it up. I turned to him, pushing onto my knees.
“You know,” I whispered, “you may have forgotten what day of the week it is. Would you like to look at my panties and see?” I was going for sexy, hoping he’d take the bait. I tried to forget the fact that I’d basically been throwing myself at him for the last week, to no avail.
“Hindley,” he stroked my jaw, “not until the doctor says you’re one hundred percent healed.”
I swung my leg over his lap and straddled his hips, brushing my fingertips up and down his strong arms. “Please,” I said in my most pathetic voice. I rolled my bottom lip out, pouting for effect, like an errant child. I wasn’t above begging.
He wrapped his hands around my waist, trying to move me, but I pressed my thighs against his hips, stopping him.
“How in the hell are you so strong?” He chuckled.
The vibration from his laughter did me in. I leaned down and pressed my lips against his, hard, not caring if he wanted me or not. I wanted him, and I wasn’t going to take no for an answer, not tonight.
“I need you,” I whispered against his mouth.
He protested, not opening his mouth to my probing.
I slipped my hands through his thick hair, massaging his scalp as I pressed my hips into his.
Slowly his hands roamed up and down my back as he submitted. His mouth opened and he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.
I moaned, working my hands down his chest and tugging at the hem of his shirt. I needed to feel his skin.
He grasped my hips, lifting me with ease as he flipped me onto my back, his body looming over me.
He lowered his body weight against me but somehow my arm had been trapped between us
Searing pain shot through my arm. I winced, biting back a groan. I refused to let him see the pain I was in. I didn’t care how much it hurt. Tonight, I wasn’t going to stop, not now that I had him on top of me.
He pulled back, his brow creased as he studied me.
Shit.
“What is it?” he asked.
I smiled. “Nothing, baby.” I slipped my free hand around his neck, pulling him down.
He stopped only inches away. “Hindley,” he scolded.
“Please.” This time my voice wasn’t coy, it wasn’t sultry, it was pleading. My physical need for him had eclipsed any pain I felt in the moment. He was essential to my survival, like air. “I need you, Rory.”
Those four words moved him into action. He snaked one hand in my hair, bringing my head up to meet his as our lips connected, tongues fighting, teeth bashing.
We were like teenagers making out for the first time. It was awkward as hell, but perfect. Neither of us cared that there was no finesse to our movements. We were desperate for one another.
His free hand found its way underneath my pajama top and he splayed his fingers on my bare abdomen, working his way up until he found my naked breast.
“Oh, God,” I moaned as his fingers caressed my nipple. “Rory,” I panted in his ear, wrapping my legs around his waist, grinding my hips into his for relief.
“You’re so wet for me,” he whispered against my lips. It wasn’t a question.
“Yes,” I whispered. “How did you know?” He was nowhere near my good parts.
He ran his nose along my jawline, planting kisses under my ear. “I can smell you.”
I froze. What was he saying? My crotch smelled? That was disgusting.
He pulled away and stared down at me. “What?”
“No girl wants to hear that you can smell her. That’s gross,” I said, pushing away from him.
“What are you talking about?” He laughed, ignoring my humiliation as his hips held me firmly in place.
Shit! His laugh. The deep vibrations against my body was intoxicating. Suddenly I forgot why I’d been upset.
He leaned in, our lips a breath apart. His eyes were crystal clear, as blue as a cloudless sky.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about smelling.
Rory caught my jaw with one of his large hands, holding my face so I couldn’t turn away. “Look at me.”
This was dominant Rory. I hadn’t seen or heard him in so long I was practically begging for him to take control. I opened my eyes. His eyes were narrowed, all trace of teasing gone.
“Hindley, the scent of your arousal is the most intoxicating perfume I’ve ever smelled. If I could, I would bottle the aroma and carry it with me everywhere I went.”
Okay, that sounded kind of creepy. But kind of hot too. “Seriously?” I asked, still a little weirded out.
“God, yes,” he hummed against my neck. He trailed his lips behind my ear, licking and sucking on the lobe. He had me on the verge of an orgasm before we’d even gotten to the good stuff.
I wanted to unzip his jeans and pull him free, but we were mashed together so tightly, there was no room for me to move without causing more pain. If he discovered my arm was hurting, he’d stop, and there was absolutely no way I was going to let him do that. Not now that I had him on top of me.
I slipped one hand around his back and dragged my nails down his soft skin. He moaned and arched into me, which only fueled me on.
“Rory,” I panted.
“What, baby?” He pressed kisses all over my face.
“Please.”
“Please, what?” He smiled against my lips. He would never tire of making me ask for exactly what I wanted. I was stronger now and this time I would ask for exactly what I wanted.
“I need you to take me to bed, strip me naked, tie me down, and fuck the shit out of me until I scream your name at the top of my lungs. Are we clear?”
He leaned back, his howling laughter echoing through my small living room.
I grabbed his neck and jerked him back down. “I’m totally serious. Right. Now.” I punctuated each word with a thrust of my hips.
“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled, pushing off me to stand. He yanked on my good hand, bringing me up to a sitting position and I noticed his mid-section was right in my face.
Hmm. Maybe sex could wait for a few minutes. I was suddenly feeling hungry for Rory Gregor.
I slipped my fingers into his belt loops and tugged him toward me.
“Hindley,” he whispered.
“What, baby?” I mocked as I undid his button and lowered his zipper. I raised my lids, staring up at him as I batted my lashes.
His blue eyes pierced through me. He was conflicted. I could see he wanted this but he didn’t want to hurt me.
I continued on, slipping my hand inside. He was rock hard. I wanted him inside me so badly. Maybe I wasn’t going to be able to do this after all. I glanced up, not surprised to see an expectant grin on his face. He wanted this, and so did I.
I tugged at his waistband, sliding his jeans and underwear down in one fell swoop. I stared in awe at the massive dick standing at attention before me. I could never get enough of his beauty. Was it possible to miss a penis? I had. I had missed his.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Shit.
“Who could that be?” he asked, glancing at the door.
“Just ignore it,” I said, grasping him fully in my hand.
He tried to pull away but I grasped his leg. “No, Hindley. It could be your parents. Or Dana.” He stepped back, out of my reach, and pulled up his briefs and jeans. And just like that, my seduction of Rory Gregor was over.
I was going to kill whoever was at the door. I’d waited over a month to get Rory’s dick inside any part of my body, and I didn’t know how long it would take to get this opportunity again. He’d had a moment of weakness and I’d played on it. Now I may be screwed, or actually not screwed, for another week. Whoever was at my front door was as good as dead.
I pushed off the sofa, glaring at him. “This isn’t over, Rory Gregor.”
He smirked and tilted his head.
Desire surged through me, my body buzzing with need.
“Really?” He raised his brows.
“Not by a long shot.” I cupped his mid-section and squeezed, pecking him on the lips.
“Promise?” He laughed, pressing into my hand.
“Guaranteed, Mr. Gregor.”
I straightened my clothing and ran a hand through my hair, trying to make myself presentable. I walked to the door and stared out of the peephole. My jaw dropped. I couldn’t have been more surprised if the Pope were standing in front of me. Actually, the Pope would have been safer. He was a man of God and I probably would have thought twice before killing him.
Standing on my porch was the one person I despised more than anyone. The blue eyes staring back at me had tormented me over half my life, and had nearly cost me the love of my life—not to mention, my own life. I stood paralyzed, having no idea what to do next.
“May I come in?”
“Who is it?” Rory asked.
I glanced over my shoulder. “My worst nightmare.”
“Hindley,” she called, knocking again. “It’s Geneva.”