Forgiven (Touched Series #2) (21 page)

I stand up, lace my arm through hers, and walk with her to the door. “I’m not sure yet. Bo may want to come over and see how this goes with Pete, so I’ll text you later and let you know. I guess I’d better jump in the shower myself and get ready for work.” After opening the door, she leans in and kisses my cheek and walks out. As I walk through the living room to go upstairs I start wondering where Bo is.

The water feels so good. My hair clean, and my body washed but I can’t seem to leave the warm spray as it runs over me. I jump a little when arms wrap around me. My eyes opening to see my man looking all kinds of hot and my hands slowly touch his slim waist then make their way up his tight abs, his broad chest, until they reach his shoulders. I hold on tight as he lifts me, carrying me the two steps to the small bench seat, and my eyes widen in delight as he lowers me onto his hardened cock, filling me until I’m so full of him that I gasp. “You’re so deep,” I whimper. “God, you feel incredible.”

He lowers his mouth to my ear and nips. “Too deep?” He breathes into my ear, causing the heat in my body to rise quickly.

Suddenly, I know what he means and try not to laugh. “The baby is fine. People have made love forever this way while pregnant. Stop worrying and feel me.” Using my knees on the seat, I rise until he’s almost out of me and then back down again and we both moan loudly in unison, the sounds echoing off the tiles.

“Damn, Peaches. You’re the one that’s incredible. I love you riding me, so hot and so sexy.” I smile as his hands clasp my waist, and he begins to help me move up and down. “Fuck!” He moans as we move together, faster and faster, his face burying into my neck. My head tilts back, my eyes rolling back into the lids as the pleasure invades me.

“BO!” I scream as an orgasm hits me hard, my nails dig into the flesh of his arms, and I feel like I’m weightless as he physically continues to move me up and down. His hips buck as he lowers me one more time, and I hear him scream my name. My face drops to his shoulder, and I’m panting so hard that my heart feels like it will pound right out of me. “Oh, my God.” I breathe against his wet skin.

His head turns and he kisses my forehead. “You’re gonna have to get clean again,” he whispers very seriously. A laugh escapes me, and I look up at him to see his sexy grin on his mouth. “Come. I’ll help.” He lifts me from his lap, grabs the soap and begins to lather it up in his hands.

“Oh, I dunno. I think if you help, we’ll never get clean.” I smirk. He turns me around, his hands moving up and down my back and then over my bottom. I breathe in quickly with his touch and feel all the tingles throughout my body returning.

“Well, we may have to do it a couple of times before we’re finally clean but it’ll be worth it,” his voice behind me full of desire, and I can faintly hear his heavy breathing mixed with the waters spray. I think I may be late for work today.

After the restaurant closes, we head over to the bar. “Dude! How’s it going?” A nice looking man shakes Bo’s hand as we enter, both of them smiling and I wonder if that’s Pete. I look around the bar to see it’s packed once again and behind the bar Pearl and Harley are busy as a crowds sits and stands around the counter. I look up when I feel a hand slide into mine and smile at Bo.

“Stormy, this is Pete,” I smile at the man as he nods and smiles back. “Gonna go get my girl a place to sit and some water. Nice seeing ya.” He smacks Pete on the shoulder and I follow as he takes me to our two seats reserved at the bar, and I giggle as his hands grab my waist, hoisting me up and onto the stool. Harley notices us immediately, finishes with a customer and grabs a cold beer and bottled water on the way over, setting them on the counter. He nods to Bo and then to me and then goes back to work.

“Such a quiet guy but there’s something….” I whisper. Bo takes a drink and I turn my head when the band on the stage lets out a holler and then begins playing a great song. I look at Bo and smile and he doesn’t hesitate to lift me up from my seat, take my hand and lead me to the dance floor. There’s such a crowd that there’s hardly any room to move but that just makes us get closer together, which is fine by me.

Suddenly, I’m pushed from the side, as someone grabs my waist and starts moving my body from side to side. “Come on…. Honey…. Move with…. Me.” His drunken slur accompanied by his foul stench makes my stomach churn. I push against his hands as I look around, trying to find Bo. I see Bo’s head as he jumps, looking for me, and I try to raise my hand but the drunken man grabs it and pulls me even closer to him.

“Let go or you’ll be very sorry,” I sneer as I struggle to pull myself free. He laughs then hiccups and leans forward, his lips too close to mine for comfort. THUD! I hit the wood floor hard on my stomach and as the music stops I hear sounds of people running, screaming, and I wince as pain emanates through me as I get kicked and stepped on. “Ungh!” I moan as I’m lifted into strong muscular arms. My hair is blowing in the breeze as we move quickly, and I’m almost afraid to open my eyes to see who has me. I finally manage to open them and see Harley holding Bo back by his arms. Bo’s face is red with anger and when I look down at the floor in front of him I see the drunken man, his face bloodied.

“He’s not worth it, man. It’s not worth being taken away from your woman. Trust me, I know,” Harley says quietly.

Bo’s head snaps to me, his eyes softening and I look up to see that mountain of a man, Rider, as he continues to carry me. I feel nauseated so I lay my head down on his big shoulder, my eyes closing. I hear Bo calling my name in the distance, sirens sounding like their right outside, but I’m too tired to open my eyes and look.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Let me go!” I growl as I watch Stormy being carried off. Harley’s grip tightens around my arms, and I struggle. I stop when I see Rider take Stormy into the hallway and know at least she’s safe and will be in Pearl’s office. As I relax my stance, showing some defeat, Harley releases me and I turn around quickly.

“Just trying to help. Don’t want you to make the same mistake,” he mumbles. Before I can blink police officers are swarming the place, talking to people, leading them outside and two jog over to us, one bending down over the drunk man and he looks up at me. The other one grabs my arm but Harley puts his hand up in front of him quickly. “No! He was protecting his woman. I saw everything. The drunk on the floor by your friend is who you want.” The police officer looks at me and then down at the drunk.

“I’ll need a statement. Looks like you did some damage though.” I take a couple of steps, eager to get to Stormy, but he puts a hand on my chest, stopping me abruptly. “I’ll need that statement now, if you don’t mind.”

Harley looks at the officer and then at me. “I’ll go check on her and report back. Can I give my statement when I return?” I look at Harley and am sure I have a pleading look in my eyes then shift to the officer, my heart beating wildly. I need to know if she’s okay.

The officer stares at me but answers Harley. “Make it quick.” Harley just nods curtly and then looks at me then turns and jogs off the dance floor and through the room. I keep my eyes on him until he’s out of my sight and then look back at the officer.

“I get you’re trying to do your job and I can appreciate that but my fiancée was pushed to the floor and trampled. She’s also pregnant. Know that if anything happens to her or our baby, you won’t need to worry about your job anymore.” He looks at me, raises his hand that’s holding a hand radio and grasps it tightly.

“Car 84 requests an ambulance at the Hot Rocks bar.” Crackling noises sound and then what sounds like an affirmation. “Now, why don’t you tell me what happened as quickly as you can, then you can go. An ambulance will be here shortly.”

I give him a play by play as fast as I can, he nods as he takes notes on his small notebook and then lets me leave. I hightail it for the back office, before Harley has a chance to get back and almost miss the doorway as I slide on the wood flooring but catch myself with my hands on the door frame. Pearl is sitting down beside Stormy, on the couch, with an ice pack pressed against her upper leg. Stormy’s eyes dart to mine as I walk closer and I notice right away the tears forming. She tries to sit up but I kneel down beside her beautiful face and lay my hand against it, her eyes closing and a couple of tears drop. “I’m here now, Peaches. Are you ok? The baby?”

Her hand lays on top of mine and as her eyes open she smiles. “We’re fine, my love. Are you ok?” I can only nod as my emotions are racing through me with the relief I’m feeling. I turn my head when a paramedic walks in carrying a big bag and sets it down next to me. I look back at Stormy, who’s looking at him and then she gives me a sweet smile. “Let them through and then when they’re done, take me home.” I lean down and kiss her lips and then hesitantly stand, taking a couple of steps back and watch as the paramedic begins to speak to her and checking her over. I feel a hand on my shoulder and look at Harley. “Thanks, man. You did me a big favor tonight.”

He releases my shoulder and starts to towards the door. “No thanks needed. I’ve just been there.” I watch as he leaves the room and wonder what he’s talking about but before I can try and figure out anything I hear the paramedic and turn around to Stormy.

“I’m not going to the hospital. End of. I’m fine. I feel a bruise on my leg and am a little nauseated, I just want to go home,” she says in annoyance.

I walk straight over and squat down in front of her. “Peaches, you’re going to the hospital. Do it for me? Let’s just make sure everything is okay, please?” She sighs and looks at the paramedic then back at me. “You know I’ll just worry all night and make you crazy.” A small smile appears and she starts to sit up so I take ahold of her arm and help her.

“Okay. I’ll go but I’ll walk. I know everything is okay. I’ll go to make sure.” She looks into my eyes. “For you.”

I look at the paramedic, raise my eyebrows and grin. He begins packing up his things into his bag and I help Stormy stand. As she begins to walk, she limps and winces so I give her my look and that stops her. She looks up at the ceiling and takes a deep breath and then when she looks at me, she smiles and nods giving me the green light. I bend down and lift her up into my arms. She lays her head down on my shoulder as I carry her out of the room, down the hallway, followed by the paramedic and we make our way to the front door.

After a fast ride by ambulance we arrive at the hospital and Stormy is in an emergency patient room quickly. Seems like the emergency area is pretty calm tonight, lucky for us. The OB on call here just finished checking Stormy and is writing some notes down on an electrical chart.

“All seems to be very well with the baby. It’s a good thing you landed more on your side. I’m happy to report that the only thing wrong, other than a few minor cuts and scrapes, is a very large bruise on your upper thigh. You all may leave when ready. Have a good remainder of your night.” She smiles brightly and then leaves us alone.

I’m so relieved that I practically jump on the bed and smother Stormy with kisses. She starts to giggle, but her hands grip around my neck tightly. “Take me home,” she whispers in my ear. I let her go and help her get dressed noticing the bruise on the side of her upper leg covers most of it. Stopping for a minute, I call a cab and then send a text to Pearl. She slides off the bed and limps when she puts weight on her leg, so I pick her up and start walking to the emergency doors. Her arms move around my neck and her head lays on my shoulder, and I sit down on a bench outside. We aren’t there for long before the cab stops in front of us, and I’m standing up with her in my arms. Once I’ve buckled us in, I hear her light breathing as the cab takes off for our home.

I managed to get her into her favorite t-shirt of mine, thinking that would be the easiest thing to put on her and then tuck her into bed. She rolls over, her hands under the pillow beneath her head and never awakens. I head downstairs and flip on the light in the kitchen, grabbing a bottled water and sit down at the table and call Dad. It’s not until I hear his panicked voice that I look up at the clock to see it’s four in the morning. “Sorry, Dad. I didn’t realize what time it was. Look, everything fine’s but Stormy was in a little accident tonight and….” I have to hold the phone away from my ear when Dad starts yelling and I can faintly hear Mom in the background. “Hey, Stormy’s fine and so is the baby. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. I’m exhausted. I just wanted to see if Mom wouldn’t mind working tomorrow for Stormy.”

I hear crackling on the line and then Mom. “They’re both okay?”

“Yes, Mom. They’re both fine. I just wanted to ask if you’d work tomorrow for her. I think we both may be sleeping most of the day. I hate to ask but….”

“No! Don’t worry about me. You just take care of yourself and Stormy.”

We hang up a few minutes later, and I head back upstairs. Slipping out of my shoes and then jeans, I crawl under the covers and Stormy immediately moves into my side. Her arm lays across my stomach, and she sighs into my chest. Laying my hand on her arm, I move my other arm around her shoulder and hold her tight. I’m so tired, yet so wired that I’m not sure I can go to sleep. When I close my eyes, all I can see is Stormy going down to the ground of that dance floor. The feelings of anger yet fear of trying to reach her not sure if I will get to her in time. Memories of the look on her face when she was told she had the miscarriage last time and the emptiness I felt. Finally, I close my eyes knowing I won’t be any good to her later today when she needs me, and I let darkness take me.

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

Opening my eyes slowly I look at the clock on the table. One o’clock. I blink rapidly and look again. Is that AM or PM? I reach my hand behind me and find Bo’s side empty. Rolling over, I stretch my arms above my head while yawning big and feel the stiffness in my joints. The scene from last night replays in my head, how brave Bo was but also so angry. I’m so glad Harley stopped him from beating that man to death. I think he could have. Harley. What a quiet person yet he came to our defense so quickly. Was that just part of the job or did he actually care? I shake my head from my thoughts and slide my legs over the bed, and sit up, looking at the huge bruise on the side of my leg. Dang, that’s really big. Finally, I get up and walk to the bathroom, my bladder in much need to relieve itself. Once I’ve finished, brushed my teeth and then my hair, putting it up in a high ponytail, I head downstairs, a little bit of a limp still apparent and walk towards the noise in the kitchen. I stop in the doorway, watching Bo lay out an assortment of food on the breakfast bar. Fruit, finger sandwiches, cottage cheese and other various cheeses, jello and to the right a pitcher of juice.

Slowly and quietly I walk over to him, put my arms around his slim waist, my hands moving up his chest and lay my head against his back. “Morning, Peaches or I guess Afternoon.” He grabs my hands while turning around, his mouth finding mine and his smell invades my nose as we kiss. “Come. Let’s get some good healthy food inside you. Our baby’s probably starving.” His hands move to my waist, turning me around, as I giggle, and hands me a plate and nods. As I start piling on the food he begins filling his plate and takes it to the table only to return and fill two large glasses of juice. My eyebrow raises, and he grins. “I think it’s only fair that if you have to eat and drink healthy then I should too. Besides, I think I’m getting a sympathy gut.” He pats his flat stomach and a burst of laughter comes out of my mouth. We both finally sit down and eat in silence for a bit and then I set my fork down and look at him.

“Harley was certainly there for us last night, hmmm? Seems kind of odd that he did that, don’t you think? I mean, I’m sure that was part of his job but the look on his face when he stopped you…. He seemed like he actually cared. Don’t you think?” His eyes travel up to mine, his fork in midair. He sets it down on his plate and wipes his mouth with his napkin, then lays his hands on the table on either side of his plate.

“Why all the questions, Peaches? What’s going on in the beautiful head of yours?” I look down at my plate and take another bite then a drink of my juice. “Hey, what’s up?”

His eyes are searching mine and my brows crease with my thoughts. “I dunno. I guess I’m just wondering, that’s all. You know Pearl really likes him, not just as an employee and well, I don’t want her to get hurt. But it just seems odd that being so quiet, keeping to himself and then he was all over you, trying to stop you from making a big mistake, one that would have been horrible to our lives. I guess when I looked at him, he acted like he cared. Maybe a little?”

He picks up his fork and takes another bite and then looks at me again. “Stormy, you and your imagination. All I know is he helped us both last night and for that I’m thankful but I still don’t trust him. It’s hard to trust someone that won’t let you in, won’t tell you anything about them to make them trustworthy and all I can tell you is…. If he hurts Pearl, in any way, I won’t hesitate to beat his ass. Make no mistake about that. Now, eat. You’ve hardly touched your food.”

Nodding, I sigh and start to eat again but all thoughts about Harley keep filling my head. There’s just something about him, something I can’t put my finger on. What if we’re wrong about him? What if underneath, he’s a good guy? Everyone has secrets, maybe his are so horrible he can’t tell people. What could they be? What could be so bad that made him the way he is? I shiver with ugly thoughts and Bo stops eating. “Are you cold?” Shaking my head, I manage to put a smile on my face and start eating more in earnest. I need to talk to Pearl. Maybe I’ll call her later and see if she has time to meet later.

“Where’s Bo?” Pearl walks in and looks around then back at me. “I love him but I’d rather he not hear our conversation, ya know?”

Nodding, I smile and walk to the couch and sit down. She follows, still leery but sits down next to me. “He went to the house and went jogging on the beach. He’s determined to keep his figure since he thinks he’s gonna get fat along with me,” I admit rolling my eyes. She laughs and seems to relax. “Okay, now. I just wanted to ask you about what you thought with Harley’s behavior last night. Seems like he acted rather quickly to the situation, don’t you think?”

She bites her lower lip and sighs. “I don’t know what to think. Once everyone left, I ran into him in the hallway by the office and almost fell. He grabbed my arms and steadied me and the look he gave me was like he was looking into my soul. Ugh! Maybe it’s just me and what I hope. I don’t know anymore. Sometimes he looks at me while we’re working and I swear he has feelings for me and then the next minute he’s stand-offish, totally pissy towards me. He’s more hormonal than a woman!” A laugh bursts from my mouth, and my hand covers it quickly. She smiles, but it turns into a frown just as quickly, her face then forms into a serious look. “Stormy. There’s something in his past that he’s afraid of. Something that happened that I think makes him afraid to get close to anyone or let anyone get close to him, I just know it.”

Reaching out I take her hand, and my face scrunches up in worry. “Honey, you can’t help everyone. Sometimes people don’t want to be helped. Sometimes they like where they are and want to stay that way and sometimes they do it to protect those that try to help them.” She looks as if in deep thought and then smiles.

“Well, too bad for him. I have to try, even more now. He really saved Bo last night and you. I know he’s a good guy underneath that rough exterior. I just know it.”

“Oh, honey. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You’re too sweet and loving for that. I know I can’t stop you but you know I’ll always be here for you.”

Our heads turn when the door opens, and Bo walks in. His skin is sweaty and a little pink from the sun, and I swear the feelings that flow through my body is telling me Pearl needs to leave fairly quickly or I won’t be held accountable for my actions. He looks at me and smiles then at Pearl and his face changes into seriousness. “Pearl.” He walks over to me, leans down and kisses my mouth and then stands back up and starts walking towards the kitchen. His head turns and he looks right at Pearl. “Don’t get involved with Harley, sis. He’s not good enough for you.” He disappears, and I look at Pearl.

“Whelp. I’d better get back over to the bar.” She kisses my cheek then stands and walks to the door. She stops, holding on to the open door and looks at me from over her shoulder. “I know he means well but I’m not going to give up on Harley.” I sit there and just stare at the now closed door and sigh. God, I hope she knows what’s she’s getting herself into.

I think about Harley and what the demons are that could be causing his mysteriousness. All of a sudden I feel like even though my life wasn’t all full of happiness, except for Mom, I think about how life can pass you by so quickly. I reach down, grab my phone, hit a button and hold it up to my ear.

“Stormy? Is everything okay?”

James’ voice sounds so good. “Everything great, James. I just wanted to tell you…. Well, you’re gonna be a grandpa.” I laugh and smile from his excitement and I feel relief, instantly. Everything’s going to be great now. I have Bo’s family, James, a baby on the way, and most importantly, I have Bo. My life is complete.