Open Wounds (Damaged Souls Book 2) (2 page)

“But wait, their eyes travel down further still, unable to resist sneaking a glance at the luscious twin peaks hidden behind whatever frilly blouse or tank top you’ve decided to wear for the day.” Sloan’s fingers slipped beneath the sheet covering Lexi’s lush breasts and he started to inch it down as he continued. “That’s when their mouths starts to water, imagining tasting dark chocolate tipped nipples.” His hand stopped to caress the very tips he described as Lexi found it harder and harder to breathe under the spell of his words and the touch of his fingertips. “But they can’t stop there, because there is
so
much more to see. So then their gaze travels down the dramatic curve of your waist to the seductive expanse of ample hips. Then fingers and palms start to itch at the urge to hold on to them for the wild ride to come.” Sloan’s fingers traced a path down one wide hip, pulling the sheet down further, exposing her naked form beneath.

Sliding his hand around to clutch her backside, he continued his expert seduction. “Oh, but what’s this? You just so happen to turn around and hungry eyes zero in on the most glorious ass a man could ask for. Now the eyes want to weep over the vision of these sumptuous globes rippling under the force of a powerful thrust.” Sloan bit his bottom lip for emphasis. “Now just a little further to go and there are these thick thighs, so soft and pliant, protecting something so secretive, so inviting…a treasure right at their apex. That’s when the cock stands up and pays attention, wanting nothing more than to sink into its recesses and discover all its secrets.” Sloan finished as he eased a long finger into Lexi’s tight heat that was drenched with her arousal.

Slipping his finger back out, Sloan raised his hand to his firm shapely lips and sucked the moisture off his finger. His piercing heavy-lidded gaze held hers as she watched the erotic gesture. He moaned at the taste of her and her inner muscles clenched with need.

“And to top it off, all of this luscious body is enveloped in radiant bronzed skin that glows burnished in the sunlight. Mmm…plain and simple…perfection.” Sloan added before leaning over her to kiss and bite at her smooth shoulder. Droplets of water from his hair fell onto her smooth flushed skin, doing little to cool her down.

The heat that had built up during his appraisal of her body, poured off of Lexi in buckets. She was on fire and this time she refused to be denied. She gripped a fist full of Sloan’s dark silky hair and pulled him over to her awaiting lips before he could pull away. She devoured his mouth in desperation, their tongues advancing and retreating doing battle, fighting to taste more, but never getting enough.

Sloan pulled away on a gasp. He stood up and, ripped the towel away from his hips, exposing his throbbing erection. He roughly grabbed Lexi by the hips and pulled her ass to the edge of the bed. And with lightning speed and precision, he plunged into her soaking core, while he simultaneously and perceptively covered her mouth with his large hand.

His provocative speec
h
had already brought her to the brink and combined with his initial hard, aggressive thrust, Lexi went over the edge. Her climax came on like a freight train and she screamed against his hand, and as the walls of her pussy contracted around him, Sloan continued slamming into her like a battering ram. Her powerful and earthshattering orgasm overlapped into a steady stream of pleasure so intense, she felt delirious.

The old rod-iron bed shook and creaked under his pounding assault, but there was no help for it, because he couldn’t stop if he tried. Feeling his scrotum draw up in warning of his impending climax, Sloan wrapped an arm around Lexi’s back pulling her to him. With his hand still covering her mouth and her continual cries of ecstasy, his mouth latched onto one plump nipple to likewise cover his shout as he came with several more rapid punishing thrusts.

Sloan held onto Lexi as spasms and aftershocks continued to rack their bodies. Slowly, he released his hold on her and she collapsed on the bed like a limp noodle. With legs weak and still trembling from his powerful climax, Sloan crumpled on top of her, resting his head on her soft breasts as he listened to her heartbeat slow and steady.

“Jesus! Now I have to try and work after
that
! Woman, you are bad for business!” Sloan moaned in exhaustion and Lexi giggled at his whining.

“Well I feel like I could run a marathon.” Lexi said caressing her fingers through his long damp satiny soft hair.

“You would.” Sloan grumbled, always amazed at her energy after their lovemaking.

“What can I say, you fill me with inspiration and I can never wait to start working on my paintings.

“Must be nice.” Sloan groaned against her soft skin before pulling himself up. “Alright, alright. I’m up.”

Lexi sat up and kissed Sloan gently on the scar that ran down the left side of his beautiful face. “Okay dear. Have a great day at work.” She teased him, finding it easier every day to be playful and loving.

Though she still hadn’t repeated the three words that she knew he wanted to hear, after she’d said it the first time a week ago, she was healing, but knew she wasn’t fully there yet. She had a lot of baggage to sort through, and she was deathly afraid of their relationship going to shit. Frivolously throwing out words of love was not an option until she was sure of him…herself…and them as a whole.

Chapter 2

Everybody Hurts

Lexi put the last few brush strokes on her current painting. The painting was of Sloan. Barefoot, shirtless and cooking breakfast like he had been the day after he had moved in with her. She had stored that vision in the back of her head for later. And now she was glad to finally have it down on canvas. What she wasn’t sure of, was if she wanted to keep it for herself or sell it. She didn’t doubt that there would be a gang of women that would want the painting of the gorgeous scarred marine. But Lexi wasn’t sure it was something she wanted to part with. Plus, it seemed too personal. Like others would be able to get a glimpse into her heart. Lexi sighed with indecision, gazing proudly at the painting.

She looked down at the pretty black German Sheppard that had taken up a post by her side on the back porch, also banned from being upstairs.

“Well, I think I’m done with this one. What do you think, Tank?” She asked the dog. He whined and wagged his tail in response.

“Thank you, I thought so myself.” She grinned down at the big dog.

She grabbed her rag to wipe her hands of excess paint when she heard through all the racket going on upstairs, quick footsteps coming down the stairs. She looked back into the house, wondering what was up, and saw Sloan with a distraught faraway look on his face, stride quickly into their temporary room and slam the door.

Lexi’s heart started to pound with worry at his strange behavior. She quickly but cautiously walked to the bedroom door. She pressed her ear against it, but there was no sound. She raised her hand to knock tentatively on the door.

“Sloan?” Lexi said softly. “Sloan, are you alright?”

She heard no response from the other side. A voice from near the staircase startled her.

“Hey, is he alright?” Kevin, one of the various men working on the house said, as he looked over the banister.

“I’m not sure. What happened?” Lexi asked the tall lanky man.

“I don’t know. We were all joking and working. Then he got this weird look on his face and hightailed it out of the room.” Kevin explained with worry.

“Okay. Don’t worry about it, Kevin. I’ll talk to him.” Lexi reassured the man.

As he nodded his head and walked back upstairs, Lexi tested the doorknob and it turned easily. She slowly opened the door, her eyes quickly surveyed the room and finally landed on Sloan in the corner. He was on the floor with his knees drawn up to his chest and rocking back and forth. She tried to get a look at his face, but his head was in his hands and his fingers were tangled in his hair.

Tank took advantage of the opening and trotted over to Sloan, whining and nudging him. Sloan didn’t even appear to notice his most trusted friend. Lexi edged a little closer to him and gently touched his arm. He flinched back, as did she. He gripped his hair even tighter, until the point that Lexi thought he’d rip out his hair from the roots.

“Sloan, sweetie? What’s wrong?” Lexi’s voice quivered with worry.

“They’re gonna kill us. They’re gonna fucking kill us all!” Sloan keened in fear.

“Oh God! Sloan, please! No one is going to kill you or us.” Lexi consoled, as a shiver ran down her spine at his words.

Fear of him striking out at her made her hands shake uncontrollably, but love and worry made her crouch in front of him, and bravely reach out to pull his hands from his head. After much coaxing, she was finally able to get his arms down. But he stared off into space as if he didn’t see her. As if he was in a different world. She knew exactly where he was.

“Sloan, listen to me. It’s Lexi. You’re here in Savannah, Georgia. You’re safe. You’re in the old cottage you’ve been renovating. You made love to me this morning, over on that bed.” Lexi said, placing her trembling fingertips under his chin to turn his face towards the bed they shared.

Looking at the bed, Sloan’s eyes started to clear and focus. A shudder ran through him as he turned to look at her, and finally seeing her for the first time, his eyes became glassy and he looked away in shame.

“Baby, what happened?” Lexi asked him hesitantly.

“I don’t know. We were talking and then one of the guys started nailing in the crown molding and the sound freaked me out like it has in the past.” Sloan said quietly.

“Well…you did great, Sloan.” Lexi praised him and he looked at her like she’d lost her mind.

“What do you mean ‘you did great’? I had a fucking horrible flashback. What’s so great about that?” Sloan said angrily.

“From what you told me before, when a nail gun went off you nearly choked the guy to death. This time you ran to a private place. That’s progress in my opinion.” Lexi finished, raising her brows at him.

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “I guess you have a point. I’m sorry for shouting at you, but it’s humiliating. Not to mention nerve racking. Never knowing when it’s going to hit and what stupid shit you’re going to pull when it happens.” Sloan blew out a harsh breath and ran an agitated hand through his hair. “It’s like I’m trapped in this mental prison and I can’t get out. It’s probably worse than a physical prison, because it gives you false hope and security that everything is fine and you’re free. And then boom”, he said slamming his fist into the wall for emphasis making Lexi jump, “you’re reminded, ‘No asshole, you’re mine and you’ll never be free’!” Sloan finished in frustration.

Lexi looked at his beautiful scarred face, understanding all too well what he meant. She felt that she would never be free of the damage that was done to her by her father and abusive boyfriends. She reached out a hand and stroked her fingertips down his face to his strong jawline.

“I know all too well how you feel.” Lexi looked him in the eye, letting him see her shared pain. “Maybe it’s time to see someone. A therapist or something.” Lexi broached.

“No, I’m good. According to you, I’m already making progress.” A smirk started to form on Sloan’s rugged face. “No one nearly died today from my flashback, so I’m improving. We’ll save the quack doctor for another time.” He joked, trying to make light of the situation.

“Alright, if you say so.” Lexi said, standing up and holding out a hand to him.

“Yes, I say so.” Sloan confirmed as he took her soft hand and stood.

“So it’s time for a break anyway. How about lunch?” Lexi suggested.

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Sloan smiled down at the worried face she tried to hide. “Thank you, Alexis, for bringing me back,” Sloan said sincerely.

“You did the same for me this morning. It’s the least I could do for you. I think we’re in this together, don’t you?” Lexi smiled up at him, gracing him with her now increasingly frequent smiles.

“Yeah, I think so.” Sloan agreed, thinking for a moment. “In fact, I’m starting to think that when your PTSD kicks in, it triggers mine,” Sloan said logically as they walked into the kitchen.

“Me? PTSD?” Lexi asked perplexed.

“Yes. You have it too. Everyone often refers to those affected by war with the acronym, but the meaning is still the same, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. You had several traumatic events happen in your life that are causing you stress. The same as me.” Sloan broke it down for her.

“Crap! Now I feel guilty.” Lexi frowned. “If my nightmare caused you to have a flashback, that can’t be healthy.” Lexi said sadly.

“Stop it. Don’t even get that complex mind of yours to working.” Sloan said with trepidation. “We’re good for each other and you know it. We’re both helping each other heal. You’re smiling more now than you did when I first met you. You only flinch every now and again when I touch you. And it’s more as an afterthought than anything.” Sloan said with a hint of desperation to his voice. “And I no longer feel like a piece of shit anymore. I feel like I have a purpose again. We’re doing that for each other. And much quicker than if we were alone.” Sloan finished arguing his case.

“Since you put it that way, I suppose you’re right,” Lexi said rationally.

“I know I am. Now let’s just put this behind us and make some lunch. Okay?” Sloan said hopefully.

“Okay.” Lexi agreed, to Sloan’s sigh of relief as he followed her into the kitchen for lunch.

~~~

Lexi watched Sloan scarf down his lunch in record time. She could tell that he was anxious with excitement to get the rest of the upstairs done. He left her with a kiss on the forehead and bounded back upstairs to get started before the other workers could even make it back from their lunch break.

Lexi just smiled and shook her head as she got up to let Tank outside, and then came back to the kitchen to collect their dishes, to start washing. She slowly washed the dishes while she daydreamed about her finished kitchen and how she and Sloan would christen every available surface when it was all done. In her mind’s eye she pictured sun-kissed tan limbs entangled with her dark bronzed ones, on table tops, counters and a beautiful brand new floor. She smiled softly at the erotic images dancing through her mind.

Lexi was so deep into her vision, she didn’t realize that she was being watched. The sound of a male voice that wasn’t Sloan’s, nearly made her drop the plate she had been absentmindedly washing for nearly ten minutes.

“Hey, Lexi. So, are you gonna fix us some dessert?” The masculine voice said as Lexi nearly jumped out of her skin.

Looking up, she realized that it was one of the workers leaning against the doorway of the kitchen, watching her. It was some guy she was sure was named Rick. And he made her skin crawl whenever he looked at her. Today was no different.

“What was that?” She asked, trying to mask her irritation.

“I said, are you gonna fix us some dessert.” He repeated as he pushed off of the wall of the entryway and took the few steps towards her. “Because I sure am dying for something sweet.” He drawled out with his thick southern accent, as he came closer to her.

Rick stepped up close enough to sandwich Lexi between him and the counter. He was average height, but compared to her extremely short stature, he might as well have been over six foot. He was stocky with greasy mousy brown hair, and nasty crooked teeth, with breath to match. Lexi cringed away from him, but other than that, couldn’t move from the paralyzing fear that gripped her. And her heart had jumped into her throat, clogging her ability to speak.

“And you’re awfully sweet. I think you’ll be the perfect fix for my sweet tooth.” The bulky man said as he leaned in, buried his nose in Lexi’s neck and breathed deeply. “I know you know that I’ve been watching you all week. And I know you’ve been wearing these tight tank tops and ass hugging pants to tempt me.” He caressed a finger down her neck, over one large breast and then he reached around to grasp a handful of one ass cheek. “God, I’ve wanted to fuck you all week! And hearing Frankenstein fucking you this morning, I’ve had a hard on all day, waiting to get a piece.” Rick said, gripping her ass painfully and pulling her against his erection.

“P…p…please don’t.” Lexi stuttered out, barely able to speak past the lump in her throat as she recoiled away from him.

“Don’t worry baby, I’ll make it good for you too,” Rick whispered in her ear, blowing his hot foul breath on her face.

Lexi started to go inside herself, like she always did in the past with her ex Eric, when he would force himself on her. It was her habit to completely shut down. To not make a sound or move a muscle. To accept what was happening to her, without putting up fight. Because fighting resulted in brutal beatings. But the disgusting man stuck out his tongue and licked her face from jaw to temple and something inside of Lexi snapped. And only one word reverberated in her mind.
NO!

“Don’t fucking touch me! You sick fuck!” Lexi shouted in Rick’s face as she finally started struggling to get free. But she was no match for his considerable strength.

“Keep quiet, bitch!” Rick growled in her ear. “You know you want it. Or you wouldn’t have been walking around trying to tempt me, swaying your hips and ass all week.” He continued as he wrapped one grimy hand around her mouth and loosened his grip on her ass, to bring his hand around to cup her sex.

Lexi bucked like a wild woman, trying to dislodge his hand. Tears of anger started to stream down her face in futility. She tried to scream, but his large hand blocked most of the sound. Pressing her hard against the counter, forcing her back to bow over the sink. The hand cupping her mound, started to press up. His fingers pushing the material of her pants up into her vagina, as he tried to awkwardly finger her through her clothes. Lexi’s hands scrambled desperately to find something on the counter to defend herself with. And as her hand found and wrapped around the handle of a knife, she heard an enraged whisper.

“Remove your fucking hands from her, before I kill you where you stand,” Sloan spoke softly, yet deadly against the shocked man’s ear, as his hand squeezed Rick’s throat.

The man released Lexi like a hot potato and held his hands up in surrender. He tried to speak, but the choke hold that Sloan had on his throat made talking impossible. With the strength built solely from rage, Sloan lifted Rick off of his feet with just one arm. Lexi watched as Rick’s face started to turn purple, and a wet spot started to spread across the front of his pants, as he pissed himself in fear.