Reckless(97)

“After I told Logan what happened in the kitchen, he and I decided we’re not moving forward with Allison as a partner.” I’ve never been more grateful than last night to have my brother by my side. Once he knew Cody would be okay at the hospital, he got a ride home from a friend so he could get back to Mila, who was with our mom.

“We love the co-op idea, though, so we’re spending the next few weeks trying to find an investor or two, just not Allison.” I run my thumb along the hem of Tori’s scrubs. “She showed her true colors yesterday, and I plan to fight for sole custody with no shared visitations if she threatens me.”

“Oh, wow.”

“I haven’t wanted to play dirty, to drag her through the mud, but I will if she pushes me. I’m tired of her shit and disgusted with the way she treated you. The way she treats the kids, like they’re an afterthought. The idea of getting back with her is so fucking insane, I’m still shocked she went there.”

Allison didn’t even bother to come to the hospital last night. After she saw our son wailing and hurt and crying for her, she left with Felicia. That’s all I need to know about where her loyalties lie.

I tangle my fingers in Tori’s hair and move her closer. “I feel like crap I wasn’t there to protect you. My house is your home too, and I want you to be comfortable there.”

Her eyes get misty. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”

“You mean a lot to me. You mean everything.” I stroke her soft cheek. “I love you, Tori. So much.”

“I love you too.” Her eyes shift down, and an embarrassed smile tilts her lips. “I’ve sort of had it bad for you for a while now.”

“Oh, yeah?” I kiss her neck, and she shivers in my arms. “You cold, baby?”

She nods and turns her face toward me. “But I’m thinking you could warm me up.”

That’s an idea I can get behind.

Glad we’re parked off the beaten path, I scoot her around so she can straddle my lap, except my hand gets trapped between her and the door, and I wince.

“What’s wrong?” she asks. I tilt her toward the passenger seat so I can slide my hand free. When she sees the bruises, she gasps. “Did I do that just now?” She takes my hand in hers.

“No, it’s from last night. From breaking James’s nose.”

Her mouth drops open. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious, and had I known what he’d done to you in my own damn house, I would’ve given him a bigger ass-beating.”

Christ. He must’ve gone after Tori before he and I got into it.

I had gotten Cody situated in the back of my truck with Logan so we could take him to the ER, and as I rounded the front of the vehicle, James got in my face to trash talk Tori. I’m not usually a man to break out a left hook, but between the vile things he was spouting about my girlfriend and my son’s injury, my emotions were running high. Now that I know he basically stalked Tori after she found out he was married, I think the shithead was jealous.

Concern fills her eyes. “Are you okay? Does it hurt?”

“Yeah. A lot actually.” I glance out the window that’s still blurry with rain and condensation to mask my smile. “But you know, if you kiss it, I might feel better.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the worry in her expression slowly morph into a sultry smirk. “Oh, yeah?”

“Definitely. Could help with the swelling.”

Speaking of… I shift underneath her to make more room. With another flick of my wrist, I slide my seat back and recline a bit. Better.

Those pouty lips dust over my knuckles before she whispers, “What else hurts? What else can I make feel better?” She rocks in my lap, and I groan. Reaching up, I untie her bun and all that hair tumbles over us.

Setting aside the jokes, I tell her the truth. “Without you, everything hurts.”

Her eyes turn hazy, those lips parting with a deep breath, electricity and love and some crazy goddamn chemistry sparking between us.

Our mouths crash together.

Somewhere in the universe, stars collide.

We scramble to get closer. To get skin to skin. I’m so hard, my groin aches.

Her shirt goes flying. Then mine. Until my gorgeous woman is only wearing that sheer pink bra and mesh shorts, so I know she can feel how hot I am for her as she thrusts against me.

I’m ravenous. Biting her neck. Sucking on her tight little nipples through the lace. Squeezing her luscious ass. Sliding my hand into her underwear and reveling at how wet she is for me.

Her hands fumble with my fly until she’s pulling me out and stroking my cock that juts out to greet her. With a grunt, I shove my jeans down to make more room and then I’m tugging her shorts and underwear to the side so we can rub, without any barriers.

The feel of her, hot and slick, makes me clench my eyes shut. “Baby, you feel so good.”

“You’re about to feel better.”

I’m reaching for my wallet when it hits me. “Damn it. I don’t have any condoms.” I gave the last one in my wallet to my brother the other night when he had a date.

Tori and I are panting and out of breath, but then she caresses my face. “You know I’m on the pill, but on a scale of one to ten, if I were to get pregnant, how freaked out would you be? Not that I’m looking to make this happen. Just asking as a barometer.”