Beautifully Damaged (38 page)

"I think I'd be a valued addition to the Scooby-gang."

I mirrored his pose before I hit the switch on the massager and closed my eyes. "Welcome to the team, Shaggy."

"Fred."

I turned my head and met his laughing blue eyes before I said, "Alright right, Scrappy Doo."

"I'm going to put you over my knee."

I laughed, out loud, at that before I said, "There's a line."

"Of that, dearest Ember, I have no doubt."

I did stick my tongue out at him and he roared with laughter.

Trace was in the living room watching television when we got back to the apartment but as soon as we entered he was up off the sofa. I saw the look in his eyes when he looked at me, and I really liked that look, but then he saw Lucien and the look changed completely. Before he could ask, I said, "Lucien has joined the Scooby-gang and helped me do a bit of recon this evening."

Trace's response to that was a slight raising of his eyebrow.

"Meet me in the kitchen."

I hurried to my room and returned shortly with the picture of Teresa and placed it on the counter and then I reached for my phone and brought up the picture of Vivian. I placed my phone down next to the picture but I didn't have to say anything since Trace immediately started studying the two pictures and then quite suddenly he stepped back.

"Son of a bitch."

It's a match, isn't it?"

"Sure looks like it," Lucien offered as he continued to study the pictures.

Trace was pacing, his long legs carrying him across the room in four long strides before he was forced to turn around again.

"If Teresa is Vivian then she's been a very busy woman. She dated my dad, helped to drug my mom for access to her money, I assume, and then later married my uncle. So, when exactly did she and my dad meet and was it a coincidence or was it all a part of their plan to get their hands on the Michaels' fortune?"

"I need to call my dad," I said.

"I'll call and fill him in," Trace said before he walked over and pressed a kiss on my forehead. He turned to Lucien and held out his hand.

"Thank you for escorting Ember tonight."

Lucien took his hand before he replied, "It was my pleasure, Trace."

I walked Lucien to the door while Trace called my dad.

"Thank you for tonight."

Lucien took my hand to brush his lips over my knuckles before he said, "I was dreading the evening but instead it turned out to be a very enjoyable and adventurous one. The contracts are done so we can drive to your dad but I'm guessing, after he talks to Trace, he'll be on his way here."

"I think you're right."

"Okay, well, call me and we can arrange to meet somewhere. Once we get the legal stuff out of the way we can start the fun stuff. I have a few contractors lined up and they have presentations for you."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. You're the boss, boss."

"I am really glad Trent and I ventured into that club that night."

He smiled before he replied, "Me, too."

I walked down the hall towards the bedroom only to find Trace sitting on the bed with his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his hands.

"Trace?"

"Your dad and uncle will be here in the morning."

"Are you okay?"

He looked up then and my breath stilled at the range of emotions flashing over his face.

"It's a goddamn clusterfuck."

"Yes, created through greed."

He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around my waist. "My father was a depraved motherfucker and he got off way too light."

"I agree but, Trace, if Vivian was Douglas' partner..."

"...I know, it's very likely that she killed my parents."

I hiked up my skirt before I climbed onto his lap to straddle him. I pressed my lips to his neck right where it met his shoulder as my teeth grazed him ever so slightly before I licked the spot I nibbled. His hands moved up and down my back before he reached for the zipper and started to slowly pull it down as his hands sought the bare skin that he exposed. I touched his chin to lift his gaze to mine.

"The silver lining, Trace, we met because of the clusterfuck."

His eyes burned before he fused his mouth to mine. He pulled my dress down my arms and then he was lifting me and laying me on the bed as he continued to pull the fabric down my legs before he draped it over the back of a chair. When his eyes returned to me to find that I was only wearing a pair of strappy sandals, he stripped in record time and covered my body with his own.

"My sandals."

His voice was nothing but gravel when he said, "No, they stay on."

He wrapped my legs around his waist, took my face in his hands, and as soon as his mouth covered mine he shifted his hips and slid into me in one long, smooth stroke. My hands gripped his biceps as he moved so deeply inside of me and when I felt myself tensing, squeezing him as I did, he moved faster and deeper. I came and he was right there with me. His face was in my hair as his warm breath teased my neck.

"Right now, when I'm buried so deeply inside of you and am a part of you, this is my heaven."

I wrapped my arms and legs more tightly around him. He pressed a kiss to my neck and then he rolled until we were lying side by side facing each other. My leg came to rest over his thigh as he wrapped me in his arms while my head rested over his heart.

"Good night, Trace."

"Sweet dreams, Ember."

And together we drifted off into sleep.

I woke to the feeling of being squeezed to death. I was having trouble catching a breath because it felt like steel bands were slowly strangling me. It took a moment for my sleepy brain to wake and for me to realize that I was being crushed by Trace who was once again trapped in a nightmare.

I moved my head and pressed my lips to his tattoo, the one over his heart.

"Trace, love, wake up."

I ran my finger across his brow, down his nose, along his jaw and over his lips.

"Wake up, sweetheart."

I moved then as I pried his arms apart so I could sit up. I noticed my sandals were off which meant Trace must have fallen asleep after me and that thought pulled a smile. I pressed kisses all over his face which eventually had him waking from his nightmare.

"...Ember?" His voice was still hoarse with sleep.

"You were having a bad dream."

His eyes opened as he focused on me and smiled. "I like being awakened like that particularly when you are dressed so beautifully while doing so."

I looked down at myself to see that I wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing and I wasn't at all embarrassed by my nakedness. My eyes turned to his before I asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Trace, you know if you ever want to talk about anything that I'm here, right?"

"I do, I know that."

"...any time, anywhere. Even if I'm working and you have the sudden urge to talk, I will leave work for you. I'm pretty tight with the boss man."

His eyes turned hot as he ran his finger over my nipple turning it into a tight peak. The sensation of what he was doing as he watched himself doing it had my stomach clenching hard with desire.

"You are so beautiful." He moved so fast switching our positions as he pinned me to the bed before he lowered his head and pressed his lips to my tattoo. His eyes were wild when his head lifted and then he moved lower down my body before he lifted my legs and draped them over his shoulders. I tried to pull away from him because I was embarrassed but then his lips touched me in the most intimate of kisses which effectively had my eyes rolling up into the back of my head. I lost myself completely to him and his most excellent ministrations.

The following morning, I woke to an empty bed and as I stretched I thought about Trace's nightmare. I wondered what he was dreaming about and I wished that he would talk with me about it. After the nightmare, oh my, I was blushing but oh lordy that had been spectacular. I rolled over as I smiled, closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. Your dad and uncle are going to be here in an hour."

I peeled open my eyes to see Trace standing before me. He had showered because his hair was still wet but he hadn't finished dressing since he had only pulled on a pair of jeans.

"Ember, sweetheart, rise and shine."

"No."

He hunched down next to the bed and grinned. "It looks to me like you need a shower to help wake you up."

And without further adieu, he lifted me up into his arms and carried me to the bathroom.

"Trace, I like sleeping."

"Um," was all he said as he held me in one arm while he worked the shower and tested the water. I took a moment to appreciate the fact that he was holding up all of my weight with only one arm but then he was climbing into the shower with me, jeans and all.

"Trace, what are you doing?"

His grin was so very devilish before he replied, "I'm going to wash your back."

I sat at the kitchen table with a very clean back as a grin pulled at my mouth thinking about Trace's very thorough washing. I could tell from the wicked gleam in his eyes, when he turned to look at me from over his shoulder, that he was thinking about it, too.

"What are you making?"

"A frittata. It's similar to an omelet with meats, vegetables and cheeses blended into the egg mixture."

"That sounds delicious, Trace."

He moved to place the frittata in the oven before he turned to me, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to my neck.

"It is but not as tasty as you, sweet." He licked my neck from my shoulder up to my ear where he nibbled my lobe before he whispered, "Your taste is my most favorite in all the world."

Delicious little chills swept through me and my knees went weak. Luckily, I was already sitting and then the door bell sounded.

"Saved by the bell," he whispered as he pressed a kiss on my neck before he started from the room but my softly spoken declaration stopped him.

"You make me so happy, happier than I ever imagined possible."

He turned and moved back to me before he hunched down and rested his hands on my knees. He spoke with quiet conviction when he said, "...and you are my everything."

He started to lean in to kiss me but the doorbell sounded again. He brushed his lips over mine before he rose. "Rain check, sweetheart."

"Definitely."

He reached for my hand and pulled me up as we walked together to the front door. As soon as Trace opened the door we were greeted to the sight of two very unhappy men.

"Daddy." I whispered as I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. He was practically shaking with rage but when his arms came around me he was so very gentle.

"Emmie, girl." he whispered.

Trace shook my uncle's hand and when I turned to greet my uncle, Trace led my dad into the kitchen where the pictures were still sitting on the counter. Trace and I stood back and watched as the two studied the pictures and when my dad stepped back his reaction to them was much the same as Trace's had been.

"God, damn it."

My eyes moved from my dad to Uncle Josh. "Did you talk with Dr. Cavanaugh and Dr. Grant?"

"Yes."

We settled at the table as Trace plated the frittata and a fruit salad and as we ate my uncle filled us in.

"Obviously, Grant wasn't interested in digging up his past particularly since his actions were unethical. However, after much posturing and repeated promises from me that I didn't give a damn about his actions he admitted to giving Teresa the scripts. As far as Dr. Cavanaugh, apparently Mandy was asking questions regarding the protection of minors and the steps required to involve DHS. I called DHS after my meeting with Dr. Cavanaugh and there was a file opened but before Mandy could give them all the details, she was..."

He didn't finish the sentence but then he didn't need to. I felt the tears but I didn't let them fall because when I looked over at Trace he had that lost look burning in his eyes. My uncle spoke but my eyes stayed on Trace who had lowered his head as he listened.

"I did a little digging and discovered that Douglas, like Teresa, was a Fishtown local and, more interesting, they knew each other since they were kids. Teresa's friendship with Mandy didn't really blossom until Mandy started her nursing degree."

My eyes pulled from Trace to look at my uncle.

"You think Teresa was looking to use mom?"

"It certainly fits her pattern. I think that Teresa must have been gloating to Mandy and that's what put Mandy on the scent. I believe she went to Trace's house that day to help his mom but her focus changed after that visit; she was working to get Trace and his sister out of that house."

Trace's head came up at that and his face was just ravaged with guilt.

"The thing is, Trace, the only way that Mandy could have learned that you and your sister were in danger was from your mom."

I inhaled, almost painfully, but my eyes never left Trace as my uncle continued, "Your mom was trying to do the right thing."

"What I don't understand is if Mandy's goal was to get Trace and Chelsea to safety then why kill her? Also the thought that it was Teresa that killed Douglas and Victoria doesn't make much sense either since Teresa moved on to bigger fish and landed Charles. She got exactly what she wanted so there's no motive. Douglas coming after Teresa, I can see that since Teresa moved on and left Douglas behind which could have sparked jealousy but not the other way around."

This came from my dad but I was too busy thinking about my mom as a wave of pride for her washed over me. She was trying to be Trace and Chelsea's avenging angel. She wasn't one who saw, heard and spoke no evil but tried to do the right thing and knowing that about her had me feeling an even greater love for her. Trace, though, was clearly not thinking along the same lines as he attempted to stand but my dad stayed that action with a hand on his shoulder.

"I want to say something to you, Trace, and I ask that you please hear me out."

Trace sat back down but he didn't look happy.

"Mandy was my life. What I felt for her is exactly as you feel for my daughter. We belonged to the other from the moment we set eyes on each other. When I lost her to such a senseless accident it nearly undid me but knowing that she was trying to do the right thing -- that she died as she lived with honor and an indomitable sense of right and wrong -- I don't know somehow it makes it easier to accept her death. With that being said, all that I have left of Mandy is in Ember."