12-Alarm Cowboys (144 page)

Needing to unburden, Makenna spilled out her heart to him. “There were times when things were fairly normal, but I would never know what might set him off. He was a control freak. If I did what he said and obeyed the rules, sometimes we could go for several days without an episode.”

Titan clenched his hands into fists. Makenna’s referring to what she’d endured with such an innocuous word as ‘episode’ only seemed to make it worse. “What set him off this last time?” She bowed her head, appearing to not want to answer. “Tell me, baby. Was it the door I ripped off the hinges?” He’d worried about that.

“No.” She shook her head. “Not really. I was able to replace the nails and get the hinges back in place after he’d passed out.” Makenna gave him a small smile. “I’m fairly handy with tools.”

“What was it then?”

Again, she delayed. Seeing his adamancy, she finally relented. “He checked my phone.”

Remorse dug into Titan’s chest like a knife. “I called to check on you.”

Not wanting him to blame himself, she enclosed one of his hands in both of hers. “Your kindness and concern wasn’t the problem. Damien is crazy. He’s sadistic. He lashes out, he hits, he punishes for the least little infraction.”

Her words did little to alleviate his pain. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

Feeling her face flame scarlet, Makenna dampened her lips before adding, “I didn’t want him.” She laughed harshly. “How could I? I hated him.”

Makenna began to cry and Titan couldn’t stand it. Rising, he asked. “Can I hold you? If that’s all you’re comfortable with, that’s all we’ll do. But if I don’t get you in my arms soon, I’ll go crazy.”

His passion thrilled her. It also made it hard to stand still. He was so intense and she was so…damaged. “In the bed?” She looked over at the wide expanse again.

“If you want, we’ll do whatever makes you happy.” He stood. “Let me go downstairs and get your suitcase.”

While he was gone, she paid a visit to the bathroom, washing her face with cool water. Slipping off the high heels and the cover up, she waited until Titan returned. When he left the case outside the door, Makenna took it and removed a sleep shirt. It was about as appealing as a feed sack, but she hadn’t borrowed anything from Allie and sexy lingerie hadn’t been something Damien demanded or allowed. Pulling the much-washed garment over her head, she fled the bathroom before she could chicken out.

It’s said that good things come to those who wait. Titan agreed. When Makenna came through the door, he felt his pulse rate skyrocket. “If you want, I can sleep on top of the covers and you can be underneath.” He’d turned down the navy spread, fluffed the pillows and made the bed as inviting as he could.

“No, I’d rather be closer to you…unless that’s what—”

“No, hell, no!” he exclaimed as she climbed into the bed, curling on her side the way she had the other night when he’d watched her sleep.

Before her, he began to undress, removing his alligator boots and the ever-present Stetson. She couldn’t look away, she didn’t want to. He was a giant of a man, making most other men pale in size and comparison. Stocky, his body was thick with muscles—ripped and chiseled with perfect definition. At six-five, he was more than a full foot taller than Makenna. Licking her upper lip, she shamelessly stared at his hot banging body. At thirty-three, he was in the prime of life with honey-brown hair and topaz eyes. Wide cheekbones and a ready smile complimented a strong jaw and a determined chin. Stripping down to his underwear, he proudly stood before her. There was a huge ridge in his briefs, but she allowed herself only a glance at it.

“Your eyes are making promises I hope you’ll want to fulfill one day.”

“Sorry.” She dove under the covers. “I’m a mess, I know I am.”

Titan chuckled. “As long as you’re my sweet mess, that’s all that matters.”

His light-hearted comment relaxed her. The bed sank beneath his weight as he stretched out. “I can’t believe we’re here like this, together,” she spoke low as if telling him a secret.

“You look right at home to me. I’ve pictured you in my bed a thousand times.” Her beautiful dark hair was spread out on his pillow. He wanted to take her in his arms so bad he ached, but they were going to take it slow even if it killed him. Rolling over to face her, they lay near but not touching. “God, you’re pretty.” He hoped his voice didn’t betray how desperate he was for her. The last thing he wanted to do was scare Makenna.

Titan held his breath as she eased closer, her body shifting until she was close enough to kiss. “Before coming here, I’d forgotten they made men like you.”

Her gaze held so much trust it broke him apart and remade him new. “I’m just a man who recognizes how wonderful you are.” Reaching between them, he took her hand. At the moment, that was the only part of them that was touching. He held it in his own. It was small, dainty and feminine. Her fingers weren’t long, but slender and tapered, and the pads were infinitely smooth and petal soft. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.” She let out a small gasp as he brought his mouth to hers. She felt his breath feather across her lips and then a gentle joining. Needing to connect, she let the fingers of her other hand brush his face—caressing, loving the texture of his close trimmed scruff.

He loved her kiss. Her lips were tender and giving. Breathing deep, Titan sought to capture the essence of her deep within him. Her tongue teased the seam of his mouth and he gladly allowed her inside. Over and over, he moved his lips over hers, consuming her mouth, sucking gently at her tongue.

Finally, she pulled back, kissing the side of his face as she did so. “Titan, I’m nervous. I’m so afraid I’ll do something wrong.” Her pink mouth trembled and her violet eyes glimmered with unshed tears as the words of her confession came bubbling forth.

Titan cursed softly. His chest was so tight it felt like a band of steel was wrapped around his middle. “Do something wrong?” He stroked her face with the back of his fingers. “Oh, baby, that will never happen. To me you are simply perfect. All I’ve ever wanted is you, just the way you are. My whole body aches from wanting you.”

During the kiss, she’d drawn closer until her body was pressing against his. He had one big arm wrapped around her middle, as if daring anything to harm or threaten her. “I don’t see how that’s possible,” she muttered.

“If words won’t convince you, maybe this will.” He cupped the side of her neck, dragging his thumb over the soft spot where her pulse raced. “Put your hand over my heart.” She hesitated. “Do it.”

Drawn by his magnetic warmth, she placed her open palm against the smooth skin, sculpted with muscle. Beneath her hand, his heart pounded. Strong.

“What do you feel?”

“Your heart, it’s beating hard and fast.” She studied his face. Makenna had never met another man like him, powerful yet gentle. He exuded confidence, carried himself with utmost assurance, a man who knew exactly what he wanted and knew he was capable of getting it—and taking care of it after it was his.

“That’s what you do to me. No other woman has ever made me feel the way you do.”

She started to question that miracle when Titan sealed his lips to hers. A jolt of electric joy sizzled through her body. He cupped her nape, holding Makenna in place with his fingers tangled in her hair. Sensuously, his mouth moved over hers, a gentle demand that made her weak. There was no doubt he was claiming her, no doubt she was important to him.

When he drew back for breath, she rubbed her face on his chest. He tightened his arm around her and when he did, her lower body came into contact with his. His erection was huge, and she instinctively moved against him. When he moaned, she quickly moved back and apologized. “Sorry.”

“Don’t you ever apologize for making me hard.” He began to kiss the side of her face and her neck. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yea, I’m fine.” Understatement. She was tingling from head to foot.

“Good, ‘cause we’re gonna make up for lost time. I still plan on taking you out on dates, courting you. But right now, we’re gonna neck…for hours.”

Makenna’s heart flipped over in her chest.

Titan Sloan was a man of his word. They kissed until both trembled from need. But that’s all that happened. When it became too much, he clasped her to him and they held one another tight. Sometime during the night, she fell asleep in his arms and he held her until he drifted off, more content than he could ever remember being.

But during the early hours of morning…something woke him. A keening sound brought his eyes wide open. He sat up, the events of the night before swamping him.

Makenna.

He was alone. Where was she?

Another small noise drew his attention to the floor on the opposite side of the bed. He went up on one knee to look and found Makenna on the floor. “Baby?” Without hesitation, he gathered her up. “Did you fall off the bed?”

To his combined joy and concern, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck. “I forgot where I was. When I realized there was someone in the bed with me, I went to the floor. I wasn’t allowed to sleep on the bed if he was there.”

Disbelief robbed Titan of speech for a time. Swallowing, he spoke, “What do you mean?”

“It’s not as bad as it sounded.” She didn’t want him feeling sorry for her.

“Bad?” He bristled. “I would give everything I owned to have you in my bed and that ape forced you to sleep on the floor!” He had to know. “On an air mattress, with a quilt?”

She shook her head. “No, just me and the hardwood floor.” She shivered in his arms. “But it became an odd source of comfort, really. I felt safer there than in the bed.”

It was obvious she was trying to make him feel better, when all he felt was sick. “From now on you’ll only sleep on the softest of beds.”

Feeling an incredible need to make him smile, she pushed on his chest until he lay supine. Then she draped herself over him, placing her head on his shoulder and running her hand down his chest to come
very
close to his manhood. “I don’t know, sometimes I prefer a firmer place to rest.”

Titan shut his eyes and held her close. “Whatever you need, that’s what you’ll have.”

*

Titan opened his
eyes. The sun was coming up and beginning to filter its morning light into the bedroom. At first, familiar thoughts and feelings filled his mind. He thought of the day of the week, his normal routine, his hope for the future…and then he heard it…a soft feminine sigh. He turned his head so hard and fast that he hurt his neck. He’d thought it had all been a dream.

“Makenna,” he whispered. She was here. Slowly and quietly, he rolled over to face her. The reality of her being this close, within easy reach, brought a prayer of thanksgiving to his lips. He let his eyes caress each feature, linger on the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Everything she’d been through, the dangers she still faced bore heavily on his mind. All of that Titan would deal with, Damien Wade’s power and hold over this woman was broken.

She made a small noise, using the back of her hand to rub her face and scratch her nose. Titan smiled so big he hurt his face. Makenna was here, she was safe and he was alone no longer.

It was going to be a good day.

He was in no hurry to get out of bed. She wiggled a little, scooting closer to him, a satisfied hum slipping from her lips. Her nipples were poking tiny tents in the material of her sleep shirt. So tempting. And soon he’d know what they looked like, what they tasted like. But he was firmly committed to taking his time, showing her what love should be like between a man and a woman.

With that firm resolve in mind, he crawled from the bed, apologizing to his cock, which had been hard so long without relief, it thought he’d joined a monastery. Giving her one last longing look, Titan went to shower and ready himself for the day. Letting her sleep in, Titan was preparing French toast when he heard her padding into the kitchen in bare feet. He glanced over his shoulder and what he saw made him smile. She was clearly not a morning person. Her hair was adorable, sticking up all over the place and her eyes were still sleepy. She was cuddliness personified. “You make me want to take you back to bed and snuggle.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” She yawned and stretched, the action bringing his attention to her full round breasts. “The least I can do is feed you for taking care of me.”

“I like taking care of you.” He pulled out a chair and held it while she sat down.” Once they were eating, reality came knocking for Titan. “Listen, I’ve been thinking and I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself for a while.” Taking a sip of coffee, he explained. “There’s no reason you can’t stay close to me until we know more about what to expect from your ex.”

“He’s not my ex, yet,” Makenna mused, licking a speck of syrup from her lip.

“No, but he soon will be.” Titan gave in to the impulse and leaned in to kiss away another spot of sugary sweetness from the corner of her mouth.

This made Makenna laugh. “Are you asking me to move in with you for a while, Mr. Sloan?” A day or two ago she wouldn’t have even considered teasing a man about something so personal. She owed Titan for several acts of kindness and one of those things was giving her a measure of confidence.