Page 93 of The Way We Win

We’re so tight, I feel every pulse as he fills me. His body shudders and breaks, and his muscles ripple in my arms. Holding him, I exhale a soft sigh.

This gorgeous man, this fierce protector, is coming apart in my arms. He’s all my dreams, my fantasies come to life. We hold each other, and I hum as we drift back to this world, as this small room comes into focus again.

His face is against my chest, and he gathers my hair in his hands, holding it back as he presses warm lips to my neck.

“You’re so beautiful, Allie.” His mouth rises higher to my ear. “So perfect for me. I’ll never let anyone hurt you. You’ll always be in my arms. Always.”

A smile curls my lips, and I exhale a soft noise of happiness…

Until the sound of a key in the front door lock sends me scrambling.

“Oh, shit!” I hiss, snatching up my pajama pants from the floor and running to my bedroom.

The front door opens just as mine closes, and the low murmur of voices meets my ear, followed by the staccato beeps of the security system code being entered.

Leaning my back against the bedroom door, I do my best to catch my breath.

In the mirror on my armoire, I see the smile covering my face, but I also see the red marks covering my neck and chest. Love bites, swollen lips, sweaty cheeks…

Another flush of warmth floods my veins. It’s the warmth of love melting away all my fear. I close my eyes and replay his words in my mind.

I’ll never let anyone hurt you. You’ll always be in my arms. Always.

Jack said he would explain what’s happening to Austin, and I’m in no shape to go out there. Still, pressing my lips together, I put my hand on the doorknob, carefully opening it so I don’t make a sound.

“We didn’t want to worry you.” I catch the end of Jack’s explanation for his presence on my couch. “Garrett’s got his guys keeping an eye on things.”

“You think he’d try to hurt me?” My chest aches at Austin’s question.

I’d give anything for his dad to be a better man.

“No,” Jack answers quickly. “I don’t know what that would accomplish, and he doesn’t have a history of that sort of thing.”

It’s quiet a moment, and if I weren’t scared I’d be caught, I’d peek to see what’s happening.

“You think he’d try to hurt Mom.” It’s not a question, and the shock in Austin’s voice hits me hard.

My hand covers my mouth, and I inhale slowly. Jack doesn’t answer, and I don’t know if he’s trying to find the right words or if he nodded in assent.

“I won’t let anything happen to either of you.” His tone is final. “You hear me?”

Rustling in the room makes me want to see what they’re doing.

Finally, my son answers. “You always look out for us.”

“I always will.” More sounds of movement, and I hear what sounds like someone patting another person’s back.

I carefully close the door as they’re saying goodnight. We’ve never had a man looking out for us, a husband, a father. Curling under my covers I hug my knees feeling more secure than I ever have in my life.

22

Jack

Cooters & Shooters is filled with pumpkins and ghosts, cobwebs and massive black spiders. Purple-caped witches on broomsticks are flattened against trees, and my youngest brother Hendrix is taking his two-year-old daughter Haddy out of her carseat.

“We’re here at last!” Raven cries, jogging up to give me a hug. “It’s so good to see you. I can’t believe it’s been four months. Is everybody inside?”

“Yep. They’re all waiting for you.” I return my sister-in-law’s hug. “You’re just in time. Dylan is waiting for you to help her with tonight’s Dare dish.”

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