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

  Jonah swallows hard. “And now you’re afraid to trust anyone.”

  I nod. “I won’t let anyone hurt me again.”

  “Is that why you don’t want the lights on?”

  I nod. “So it can’t be videotaped.”

  Jonah closes his eyes tightly, and when he opens them again, they’re filled with pain. He brushes my hair back and tucks it behind my ear. “Lia McIntyre, have you ever considered the possibility that there’s a guy out there – just a regular guy – who thinks you’re the bomb? A guy who’d give his left nut just to be near you. Maybe a nice guy, one who would never, ever hurt you. Has that possibility ever crossed your mind?”

  I smile. “You’re hardly just a regular guy, Jonah. You have legions of fans following you everywhere you go, not to mention a crazy-ex-girlfriend who won’t take no for an answer.”

  Jonah makes a show of scanning the small, sparsely furnished room. “Don’t see any fans in here. No ex-girlfriends either. It’s just you and me, tiger.”

  His smile fades. “Lia, you can’t keep your life on hold forever because your first boyfriend was an asshole. You’ve got a lot of living ahead of you. And there are plenty of good guys out there who’d give anything to be with you, including yours truly. You’re amazing. You’re beautiful, funny, smart, and great at kicking ass. You’re a very well-rounded woman.”

  “Well-rounded?” I laugh. “That hardly seems like a compliment.”

  “You’re the full package, babe. So, how about giving me a chance to prove that not all men are assholes? I’m certainly not.”

  I brush back his hair. “No, you’re not.”

  Chapter 34

  I’m not prepared for this.

  He won’t let me hide, and he won’t let me pretend this is just another fuck. He hovers over me, studying my face, tracing the shape of my eyebrow with the tip of his finger.

  “Get on with it, will you?” I say, pressing my hips against his in the hope of spurring things along. But no such luck. The man won’t be hurried.

  He smiles. “No. I’m going to savor this.” His finger trails down my nose and then skips over to skim across my cheek. His voice drops as he turns serious. “I was scared earlier.”

  “When?”

  “When Barker pulled that knife.”

  I scoff. “I wouldn’t have let him hurt you. There was nothing to be afraid of.”

  He shakes his head and looks at me like I’m nuts. “I wasn’t afraid for myself, Lia. I was afraid for you.”

  “I can take care of myself. You know that.”

  He shakes his head. “No one’s invincible. When I saw that knife, all I could think about was the damage that thing could do to you.”

  It’s weird – I’m not used to someone worrying about me. Even my brothers gave up worrying about me a long time ago. I reach up to cup his face, my thumbs stroking his short, soft beard. “My heart stopped when I saw the tip of that knife against your jugular. That was something to worry about. I didn’t have much time to react. If he’d cut you – ”

  “But you did react. You probably saved my life.”

  I shrug it off. “It was nothing.”

  He chuckles. “At least you didn’t say you were just doing your job. I think we’re making progress.” His expression darkens. “I don’t ever want you in harm’s way again,” he says.

  I smirk. “So, what are you going to do? Fire me?”

  But he doesn’t seem amused. “I think maybe I am.”

  “Technically, you can’t fire me. Dwight hired McIntyre Security, not you.”

  “I’m serious. If something happened to you – ”

  I thread my fingers into his hair and pull his mouth down to mine to shut him up. But the resulting kiss is more than I bargained for. It’s slow and sultry. His lips move over mine like warm velvet, caressing me, sucking and stroking. His kiss makes my entire body tingle, from my scalp to my nipples to my sex. After a long moment of exquisite torture, he nudges my mouth open and slips his tongue inside to stroke mine.

  His arms are propped on the pillow, and his hands cradle my head. I feel cocooned, wrapped in his warmth and tantalizing scent. I’ve never experienced anything like this. His body, his touch, are simultaneously comforting and arousing, and I’m torn between wanting to jump him and melting into a puddle. When he sucks on my tongue, I feel an answering pull between my legs, and it makes me restless. My hips start moving as I rock against his pelvis, enticed by the feel of his thick erection. The dull ache between my legs quickly turns into a throb, and I push my sex against him, seeking the contact I need.

  “All in due time,” he says, lifting his hips from mine.

  I growl at the loss of him. “Don’t tease me!”

  “I won’t.” He reaches down to cup me between my legs, and his thumb presses on my clit as his fingertips slide between my wet folds. I gasp when one long finger glides gently inside me, pushing through swollen flesh. His thumb circles my clitoris wickedly, ratcheting up my desire, sending waves of pleasure radiating outward from my core.

  I can feel my orgasm looming, and just when I’m about there, he removes his fingers. “Jonah!”

  “Relax. We’re not rushing this.” He moves down the bed and wedges his broad shoulders between my legs, opening me up.

  “Jonah, don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  I squirm uncomfortably. “I need to shower for that.”

  “Oh, please. I’m going to make you come so hard, you won’t be able to see straight, let alone think about showering.”

  And then he proceeds to make good on his promise, lashing my clit with his wickedly ruthless tongue, stroking and teasing and swirling it around that tiny bundle of nerves.

  I’m squirming on the bed and biting my bottom lip in a futile attempt to keep quiet. “There are people in the next room, you know!” I hiss.

  He lifts his mouth just long enough to say, “Then come quietly.”

  I lay my head back and close my eyes, resigned to this torture. He’s determined to push me over the edge, and I’m needy and greedy enough to go right over. I’m helpless against the one-two punch of his tongue on my clit and his finger stroking inside me. He knows exactly what he’s doing, finding the sweet spot and stroking me relentlessly. The pleasure is back with a vengeance, swelling inside me, rising like a wave ready to crash. He’s right, damn it. I come hard, desperately pressing a pillow against my face to muffle my cries.

  Jonah surges up, removing the pillow from my face, and kisses me. He tastes like me, of course, earthy and warm and slightly salty. He reaches beneath his pillow and pulls out a fresh condom, which he quickly rolls down his length. My legs go around his hips, and he guides his erection to my opening.

  “Put me inside you,” he says, taking my hand and wrapping my fingers around his thick girth. When he dips his head to kiss me again, I can taste his hunger.

  I lead him directly to the aching place between my legs, and once the head of his cock is wedged inside me, he gently presses forward, filling me one slow inch at a time. I’m so wet, so ready for him, he glides slowly inside me. The sensation of being stretched and filled is exquisite. “Jonah!”

  “I know. I feel it too.” He rocks himself inside me, not rushing things, just inch by inch until he finally sinks that last little bit and he’s hitting my cervix.

  We both gasp.

  He stays fully seated for a moment, his eyes closed as if he’s savoring the moment. I can’t resist squeezing my vaginal muscles around him.

  He heaves a deep breath. “God, that feels good.”

  “It would feel even better if you’d start moving.”

  He chuckles as he slowly pulls out of me, but not quite all the way. When he surges inside again, in a smooth, fluid motion, I gasp. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the feeling of being filled so perfectly.

  Jonah sets his own rhythm, surging in and out as he kisses me. My legs are wrapped around his waist, holding him close, and my hands stroke up
and down his arms, exploring his muscles and reveling in his strength. His hair is loose around his face, falling down in a curtain of dark mahogany silk. I run my fingers through it, brushing it back.

  Jonah picks up the pace, stroking smoothly into me. I lift my hips to meet each thrust, wanting to drive him deeply inside me. I know I’m going to be sore tomorrow, but it will be worth it.

  When he lowers his head to latch onto my left nipple, suckling and tugging gently, I feel a corresponding tug between my legs. He sucks at one nipple, laving and pulling on the sensitive tip, then switches to the other one and provides the same thorough treatment.

  His movements are strong and fierce now, his mouth tormenting my breasts, when he reaches down and rubs my clitoris with the tip of his thumb. To my shock, I feel another orgasm looming... something I would have thought impossible. But he’s relentless as he torments my clit, and soon my hips are rocking into his as a tiny explosion rocks me for the second time in one night.

  As Jonah explodes right along with me, he throws his head back, grimacing from the intense pleasure. The tendons in his neck are taut, and his jaw is clenched tightly. He cries out, an unintelligible sound as he presses deep inside me, emptying himself in violent spurts.

  Time stands still as we lie there, still entwined, simply enjoying the physical connection as well as the emotional.

  When he eventually withdraws, he slips away to take care of the condom. I know I should go clean up, but I feel absolutely boneless and don’t want to move a muscle. A moment later, he slips back into bed and presses his nakedness against my back, warming me. He tucks the sheet around us so that we’re cocooned together in the dark. A light rain is still hitting the roof and the window panes.

  “Do you think they heard us?” I whisper.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. Your brother isn’t in the other room.”

  Jonah chuckles. “Thank god. I’m pretty sure my little brother’s still a virgin.”

  “I can’t keep my eyes open,” I admit, letting my lids drift closed. My sex is throbbing, a very telling reminder of what we just did. I don’t want to think about it and what it might mean. I didn’t just break my rules, I shattered them. There’s no going back now.

  “Go to sleep,” he murmurs. He kisses the back of my head as his arm steals around my waist and tucks me close to him.

  Exhaustion pulls me under quickly.

  * * *

  I awaken sometime in the night and lie quietly listening to the wind soughing through the trees outside our cabin. When I roll over to face Jonah, I’m surprised to find him wide awake, watching me.

  I lay my hand on his chest, which is warm as an oven. “What’s wrong? Can’t you sleep?”

  He shakes his head. “Not yet.”

  I suspect Jonah has demons of his own. “You have a problem falling asleep, don’t you?”

  He shrugs. “I can’t fall sleep until early morning. I guess I’m a night owl.”

  He yawns, and I know he’s dead tired. We had a long day, with the hike to the falls and then his performance at Lucky’s earlier this evening. I remember the nights at the house when I’d hear him prowling around upstairs in his attic suite.

  “Why can’t you sleep, Jonah?”

  He looks at me, but doesn’t answer.

  “Is there a reason?” I say.

  He nods.

  “Are you going to tell me?”

  “It’s nothing you need to worry about, I promise.”

  “That’s hardly fair. I spilled my ugly guts to you tonight. At least you could do the same.”

  He sighs heavily. “It’s old history, Lia.”

  I shake my head. “Not if it’s still affecting you.”

  “It’s just an old habit I got into when I was a teen. Don’t worry – ”

  I sit up and pull the sheet up to cover my breasts. “Now who’s doing the bullshitting?”

  He sighs and pulls me back down into his arms. “My dad lost his job when I was fifteen. He’d been making really good money for years working at an auto manufacturing plant in Detroit, and when he was laid off, it devastated him. He didn’t know what to do. He had no college degree and no other marketable skills. He knew how to build the cars, and that’s it. When my dad couldn’t find work, my mom went to work at a local retail. Her minimum wage job didn’t pay enough to cover the bills and put food on the table, so she got a second job. She worked her fingers to the bone trying to hold our family together and keep a roof over our heads. My dad, on the other hand, grew more and more angry and depressed, and he turned to alcohol to deal with the pain. He spent every single evening in a drunken haze. And he was a mean drunk.”

  “But what does that have to do with your insomnia?”

  He shakes his head. “It’s not insomnia. It’s self-preservation.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “My dad would come home late every night from the neighborhood bar, drunk as a skunk and pissed as hell. At first, he tried to take it out on me, but I was already as big as my dad by then, and I fought back. When he hit me, I hit him right back. Eventually he left me alone. But my little brother, who was only eleven at the time, wasn’t so lucky. One night, while I was out with my friends, I came home around midnight to find my dad beating the shit out of my little brother.”

  “Where was your mom while this was happening?”

  “At work. She worked two jobs, both first and second shift – plus all the overtime she could get, which meant she wasn’t home very much. It wasn’t her fault she was never home. I got in the habit of staying up all night to watch after my brother, until my dad eventually passed out after ranting and raving for a few hours. Only once he was out cold for the night could I allow myself to fall asleep on the floor of my brother’s bedroom. I guess over time, it became a habit. I’m still anxious at night, and I can’t sleep until it’s nearly dawn.”

  “Is your dad still around?”

  “No. When I finally told my mom what was happening, she kicked him out. They’re still married, but she hasn’t seen or heard from him in ten years.”

  “And your brother?”

  “He’s fine. He’s a junior at University of Michigan.”

  I brush his hair back. “You can sleep now, Jonah. He can’t hurt you anymore. He can’t hurt anyone you love.”

  He smiles sadly. “I wish it was that easy.”

  Chapter 35

  My internal alarm clock wakes me at the usual time, six thirty. Jonah is fast sleep, pressed up against my back with his arm around me. I snuggle into him, wallowing in his delicious warmth. But as nice as this cuddlefest is, I have to pee really badly, and I need coffee. So I carefully extricate myself from his death grip and leave him to his much-needed sleep. Knowing him, he’s probably only been asleep a few hours at best, and he needs all the rest he can get before tonight’s performance.

  After a quick stop in the bathroom, I’m refreshed and dressed in cargo shorts and a T-shirt, and I head to the kitchen to make coffee. To my surprise, Shane has beat me to it. He’s pouring two mugs of coffee.

  I reach round him and grab one of the mugs. “I’ll take that, thanks.”

  He gives me the evil eye, then pulls another mug out of the cupboard. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

  I take a seat on one of the kitchen barstools. “I’ll let him sleep as long as he needs. Then we’ll head back.”

  “You know you’re in violation of company policy, right? No fraternizing with the clientele.”

  I scoff. “You’re one to talk. You’re marrying a client. Besides, it may be a moot point. I think he fired me last night. He’s afraid I’ll get hurt.”

  Shane smiles. “I told you he’s a good guy. I can’t fault him for wanting to protect my little sister.”

  I shrug, not liking where this conversation is going.

  But Shane doesn’t miss a thing. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”r />
  He gives me a wry look. “Lia, come on.”

  I wrap my hands around my hot mug and stare out the back door, desperately wanting this conversation to end. “I told you, I’m fine.”

  He doesn’t look convinced. “Just make sure you have him at Rowdy’s by four. They’re going to do a sound check and a rehearsal before tonight’s show.”

  “Yeah, I know.” For some reason, I find the idea of going back to real life depressing. I wouldn’t mind staying gone for a while longer, but I know Jonah has commitments he has to keep. At least while he’s under his recording contract.

  Shane is dressed in jeans and a navy crew-neck sweater. His hair is slightly damp, which means he’s already showered. My brother’s an early riser. Beth is not. “Beth still asleep?”

  “She was when I left her. She wants to get back to the city this morning so she can go to work, so we’ll be leaving soon.”

  We finish our coffee in silence, just the two of us. The peace and quiet is nice, and I’m relieved Shane’s not pushing me on the subject of Jonah.

  Eventually, he breaks his silence. “Did Barker hurt you last night?”

  “No, he didn’t touch me. I’m just pissed that he got the jump on us. I blame it on the storm. With all the wind and thunder, I didn’t hear a thing until he was on us.”

  “Mitch texted me this morning. Barker was charged with assault and battery, and assault with a deadly weapon. He’s scheduled for arraignment next week, but his attorney is saying he’ll plead guilty. He’s probably banking on a shorter sentence if he cooperates.”