Broken: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 3) Read online

  I feel a connection between his sucking and the hot, aching place between my legs. My hips start moving on their own, and as I clench down hard on my sex, the pleasure is exquisite. He’s the best kisser I’ve ever had. His mouth makes love to mine, stroking and licking and sucking until I can barely breathe. Just kissing with him is better than a lot of sex I’ve had.

  He sinks slowly into me, the girth of him stretching me. The feeling of fullness takes my breath away, and I revel in it. My body gradually softens as it opens for him, and I take a deep breath as he seats himself fully.

  He lets out a low groan. “My God, you feel so good.”

  I latch onto his mouth, kissing him hotly as I start to move beneath him. He withdraws almost to the tip, then sinks back inside me, slow inch by slow inch.

  I gasp when he hits my cervix. “Jonah!”

  He chuckles a little breathlessly. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

  He starts moving, slowly at first, in long, fluid strokes, his hot length dragging along my sensitive tissues. As he gradually picks up speed, pleasure sinks into me, a sweet gliding warmth that ratchets up my pulse. Before long, I’m panting like a marathoner, and we’ve hardly even started.

  Jonah’s eyes are at half mast, and he looks lost in pleasure. I smile, happy that I’m able to give him that. He’s so selfless, he doesn’t ask for much. It’s about time somebody gave to him, without thought of receiving anything in return. I want to give him pleasure. I want to drive him wild. I lift my hips to meet his thrusts, taking him in as deeply as I can.

  His eyes look almost black in the darkness. “I could stay inside you forever,” he says.

  He rocks his hips into mine, apparently in no hurry. He must be angling himself just right, because very soon I feel a sweet sensation swelling deep inside me. God, the man knows what he’s doing.

  “Right there!” I gasp. “Oh, God, don’t stop. Right there!”

  He maintains his angle, and I realize he’s determined to make me come. So much for my idea of wearing him out with a mind-blowing orgasm. It’s more like he’s going to blow my mind instead. Sure enough, I feel my orgasm building, wave after wave of sensation sweeping through me. My orgasm strikes me hard, lighting me up inside like a Christmas tree. I cry out as my body clenches down tightly on his cock. He starts moving in earnest now, fast, long strokes, and his climax is fast on the heels of mine. He barely lasts more than a couple minutes. He throws his head back, the tendons in his throat pulled taut as he grimaces with pleasure. “God!”

  I can still feel the residual tremors from my orgasm sweeping through my body, warming me and turning my muscles to putty. Suddenly I feel exhausted, and I can only hope he does too.

  We lay there for a moment, still fully joined, our hearts pounding in unison. My body is throbbing with pleasure, as is his. I know, because I can feel it. He rolls us on our sides to take his weight off of me and brushes my hair back from my face.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he says.

  I roll my eyes. “It was all right.”

  He makes a mock face of indignation. “Just all right?” Then he smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. “Be right back.”

  Jonah disposes of the condom in the bathroom. As soon as he returns to bed, it’s my turn in the bathroom as I clean up. I’m torn between going to my own room to sleep for the rest of the night or staying here with him. The truth is, I hate the thought of leaving him right now. My body’s still reeling from post-coital hormones and bliss, and I just want to feel his big, warm body wrapped around mine. I’m still trying to make up my mind when he appears in the bathroom doorway.

  “You’re coming back to bed, aren’t you?”

  I nod, unable to resist his hopeful expression. He doesn’t want to be alone tonight, and frankly neither do I.

  Back in bed, he spoons with me, his arm around my waist, drawing me back against his chest. We lie that way for a long time, silent, relaxed, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

  His hand comes up to gently cover my left breast. “Why does the light have to be off when we have sex?”

  My heart starts hammering, and I think he can feel it.

  His voice is a low murmur in my ear. “It’s okay. I just need to understand.”

  There’s no explanation I can give without telling him what happened, and I can’t do that. Talking about it just brings the pain and the horror back again, the humiliation. My God, if he knew, if he ever saw that video, I’d die. “I can’t talk about it.”

  “Don’t you trust me?”

  “I do trust you. But I can’t talk about it. Please don’t ask me to.”

  He sighs heavily. “I’d never hurt you, Lia. Surely you know that.”

  I don’t respond, because there’s nothing I can say. I don’t think he’d ever hurt me intentionally – he’s not a cruel person. But he can’t make promises like that. Even people who love each other hurt one another sometimes.

  He kisses the back of my head and tightens his arm around my waist. “It’s late. Go to sleep.”

  “You too.” After all, that was my objective. To help him get to sleep.

  “I will.”

  Somehow I fear sleep is the last thing on his mind.

  * * *

  When I awake, the sun is up, and Jonah is fast asleep. I extricate myself from his iron-clad hold and slip quietly out of bed, not wanting to wake him. After quick stop in the bathroom, I return to my room to get dressed. Then I head for the kitchen to make coffee and check my messages.

  Shane, Jake, and Beth all left me messages last night, mainly just checking on us. I text them all back to let them know we’re fine.

  Dwight has sent me several text messages over the past few hours.

  Lia, where the hell is he? Bring him back to the house ASAP.

  Lia, god dammit! I need to speak to him. He’s not answering his phone. Have him call me.

  If you don’t bring him back here within the hour, I’m calling the cops to report him as a missing person.

  You’re fired. I’m calling Shane to cancel our contract with McIntyre Security.

  I take great pleasure in sending him back one text:

  I’m fired? Good. Now leave me alone. I’ll have him back in time for the performance. Stop whining.

  I even have a few texts from Makayla, who apparently got my number from Dwight.

  How’s Jonah? I’m so worried about him.

  He’s the love of my life, and I’m not giving up on him. We are destined to be together. He’ll realize that and come back to me.

  Tell him I love him and I’ll see him soon.

  I block Makayla.

  After turning off the security system, I take a mug of black coffee and my phone out to the front porch and sit on the swing, enjoying the tranquility. It’s mid-morning, and I figure Jonah’s had only a few hours of sleep. I’ll let him sleep as long as he needs to.

  I read for a while, then decide to walk in the woods just around the cabin. I have my phone with me, and I leave a note for him on the kitchen table in case he wakes up and wonders where the hell I am.

  Jonah and I each have our own secrets. I suspect there’s a reason he has trouble sleeping, and I’m afraid it’s not a pretty one. I can’t stop thinking about the comments he made when he was half out of his mind, about staying up all night and keeping me safe – I won’t let him touch you. For some reason, I don’t think he was talking about the biker.

  Around noon, the Harbor Springs sheriff pulls up to the front of the cabin. I’ve been expecting him – I’m surprised it took this long. I walk down the porch steps and meet the him half way.

  His name tag says SHERIFF JAMES MITCHELL. He’s young for a sheriff, in his late thirties I’d guess. Average height, trim build, with sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and wire-framed glasses. He takes off his hat and smiles. “Lia McIntyre, right?”

  I nod. “That’s right.”

  “Sheriff Mitchell. What brings you to Harbor Springs?”
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  I cross my arms over my chest, wondering where this is going. I have to assume he’s here because of what happened at Lucky’s last night. “Just a short visit. This is my brother’s cabin. I’m just visiting with a friend. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

  “I’ve played poker many a times with your brother Jake, and with Shane.” He takes a small notepad and pen out of his shirt pocket. “I heard you were involved in an altercation last night at Lucky’s.”

  “You could say that. Some guy accused me of cheating at pool and started manhandling me. My friend took offense at his behavior and asked him to stop.”

  Sheriff Mitchell grins. “Asked him?”

  “Yeah. With his fist. It was a fair fight.”

  The sheriff jots down a few things. “Is your friend around? Can I talk to him?”

  “He’s asleep.”

  “At this hour?”

  “He’s not a morning person.”

  “I see. What’s his name?”

  “Jonah.”

  The sheriff makes another notation on his little notepad. “Has Jonah got a last name?”

  “Are you charging him with something?”

  “No. At least not yet. The guy your friend beat unconscious last night is named Neal Barker. Barker claims Jonah attacked him without provocation. Barker’s considering assault and battery charges.”

  Shit! That’s the last thing Jonah needs. “Look, Blondie tried to assault me with a broken pool cue. I’d hardly call that without provocation. Jonah was just defending me. There were a dozen witnesses in the bar that night, including the owner. Any of them can vouch for Jonah’s actions.”

  Mitchell nods. “I’ve spoken to a few of them already last night and this morning, and their reports support what you just said – that Neal tried to hit you with the pool cue.”

  “Then maybe I should press charges against him.”

  The cabin screen door opens on squeaky hinges and bangs shut, and the sheriff and I both turn to see Jonah coming down the porch steps. He’s dressed in jeans, a plain white tee, and boots. His hair is pulled haphazardly into a ponytail, and his eyes are on me. “Lia? What’s going on?”

  “Sheriff Mitchell just stopped by to say hello. Apparently, he’s a family friend.”

  Jonah eyes the sheriff, not fooled for a second. “Is that right, Sheriff?”

  Mitchell smiles politely as he shakes his head. “No. Well, yes, I guess I qualify as a family friend. But I’m here now on official business. I’m following up on assault and battery charges.”

  “He had it coming. He could have hurt Lia badly.”

  “That’s what I’ve been told. Do you have a last name, Jonah?”

  Jonah’s expression hardens. “Locke.”

  Mitchell’s eyes widen, and I wonder if it’s because he realizes who Jonah is. “I see. Welcome to Harbor Springs, Mr. Locke.”

  “Thanks. So, now what?”

  Mitchell makes another note on his little pad, then he tucks the pad and pen back into his uniform shirt pocket. “Nothing. Based on the witness statements, and my conversation with Lia, I don’t think charges are warranted. If something changes, I’ll let you know.”

  Jonah nods, extending his hand to the sheriff. The two men shake, and I can see a lot of unspoken man-communication going on. Give me a break.

  “I hope you have a nice stay, Mr. Locke. Sorry for any trouble you might have experienced. Barker and his buddies can get a little out of hand sometimes.”

  Chapter 28

  Since it’s past noon, we make sandwiches, grab a bag of chips and two cold beers and head out to the front porch to enjoy our food.

  “So, what do you want to do today?” I ask Jonah, as we eat sitting on the porch swing. “We have the whole rest of the day to ourselves. Do you want to go back into town?”

  He gives me crooked smile. “I think I had enough fun in town last night to last me a while. Maybe we could go to the diner tonight for dinner. How about exploring around here for a while?”

  “Sure. We could hike down to the falls. Jake’s property butts up to a state park with a creek and waterfall. It’s an easy trail through the woods.”

  After cleaning up our lunch mess, we prepare for our little hike. It’s only two miles to the falls, not too strenuous as the path is pretty level and well marked. I’m geared up with a satellite phone and my gun, just in case. Cell service out here is spotty as hell, especially deep in the woods and down by the falls. Jonah loads a backpack with water bottles and snacks in case we get hungry.

  I take the lead, since I know the terrain well. Jonah walks behind me, and we hike in comfortable silence. I get the feeling Jonah’s a little lost in his thoughts, and a few times I hear him humming the melody he’s been working on at the recording studio.

  Before long, we arrive at our destination, Cross Creek. It’s a beautiful, peaceful spot, where a pretty good-sized creek falls vertically a hundred feet into a large pool. We have the place all to ourselves.

  I climb up onto a massive boulder that overlooks the falls. It’s sunny, and the stone’s surface is delightfully warm. Jonah climbs up beside me, and we sit up here and enjoy the scenery.

  My belly’s full from lunch and the sun is warm on my skin, and after a while, I start to feel drowsy. Jonah’s sitting behind me, and I can’t resist leaning back against him. He responds by putting his arms around me. I’m pretty sure we’re flirting with boyfriend-girlfriend territory, and I find it unsettling. I’m not used to being so touchy-feeling and taking comfort from other people. But at the moment, I like it and I’m loathe to give it up.

  Jonah kisses the top of my head. “Thanks for suggesting this. I used to hike and camp a lot when I was a kid. I haven’t done it in years, and I just now realize how much I miss it.”

  The only sounds we hear are the running water and the sounds of birds in the trees. It’s the antithesis of what tomorrow’s concert will be like. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to it. It’s sure to be loud and chaotic. And I hate that he’s going to sing a duet with Makayla. It’s not that I’m jealous or anything – I’m not. It’s just that I know he doesn’t want to encourage her.

  There’s a question I’ve been wanting to ask him, and it feels like this is the right place to open this can of worms. “Jonah?”

  He sets his chin gently on the top of my head and tightens his arms around me. “Hmm?”

  “Are you happy?”

  I look back to see his response, and he frowns, as if he’s surprised by the question.

  “I’m happy sitting here with you.”

  “That’s not what I mean. I mean, are you happy with your life? With your career?”

  “I love writing songs. I love playing music and singing.”

  “You didn’t answer my question. I asked you if you were happy living the life you’re living. There’s a difference.”

  He releases me and leans back, and I suddenly feel bereft. For a second I think he’s going to get down off the boulder. He doesn’t, but there’s a some distance between us now that wasn’t there before. I shouldn’t have pushed him.

  “Sure, I’m happy,” he finally says. “I’m fronting one of the most popular bands in the country right now. I’m making money hand over fist. What’s there not to be happy about?”

  “You still haven’t answered my question.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “How about the truth? Do you wake up every day excited about your life? Do you wake up happy and itching to be you – Jonah Locke, rock star extraordinaire?”

  He lets out a heavy sigh. “No.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  His arms come back around me and he pulls me back against him so that I’m nestled between his thighs. “I’m not an ungrateful bastard, you know. I know I have it good. A lot of guys would kill to be in my position.”

  “I know. But it’s just not for you, is it? The music, yes, the writing and performing, I get that. But not the rest of it. Not th
e management and the scheming and the plotting and the publicity. Not the paparazzi and the mindlessly screaming girls who camp outside your home twenty-four-seven, pretending they’re in love with you when they know absolutely nothing about you.”

  “God, I hate all that.”

  His whispered response was so quiet I almost missed it. “Why is that so hard for you to admit?”

  He shrugs. “Because it’s a huge responsibility.”

  I scoff. “What is? Being famous?”

  He tightens his arms around me, almost angrily. “Yes. Do you know how many people’s livelihoods I’m responsible for? Not just the guys, but Dwight, Ruben, Esperanza, the roadies, the bus drivers. I’m talking at least twenty people. Twenty people whose paychecks fall on my shoulders. If I walk away from it, they all lose their jobs.”

  “Jonah, they can find other jobs. You can’t allow yourself to be a slave to this industry if it’s making you unhappy. Just leave.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  He shakes his head. “You have no idea how bad it was for us after my dad lost his job in the auto industry. My mom ended up working two minimum wage jobs just to keep a roof over our heads and put food on the table. It still wasn’t enough. My little brother outgrew his clothes faster than we could replace them. And I can’t tell you how many nights we went to bed hungry. Now I’m rolling in dough – I can’t just walk away from that.”

  “Of course you can. I’ve spent this whole week with you, Jonah, and I’ve seen your spending habits. They’re practically nonexistent. That means you’re socking money away for a rainy day. I imagine you already have enough in the bank to live comfortably for the rest of your life, don’t you? And maybe for your kids to as well. Am I right?”

  Reluctantly, he nods.

  “Then quit. Just walk away. The contract with your music label is up for renewal soon. Don’t renew it.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “I’m serious! You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

  He pulls away and hops down to the ground, walking away from me and toward the water. “You don’t get it, Lia.”

  I slide down off the rock and follow him. “Yes, I do! You work so hard taking care of everyone but yourself. Why won’t you take care of yourself for a change?”