Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) (16 page)

Knowing she was safe with him, she rested her head back on the seat.

Chapter Twenty-One

Waiting for Owen to return felt like hours but in reality was only a matter of minutes. And then there he was, in Donna’s doorway, in her hall, in her bedroom, in her arms. He pressed himself to her, his hands on her back pulling her into him as his mouth found hers again. There hadn’t been much room for exploration inside the car but here, in the safety of her own home, she gasped at the thrill of his tongue reaching out to find hers, pushing gently, rhythmically in and out so that her legs felt weak and she literally sank into his body.

His smell overpowered her senses again as his mouth dipped lower, tiny butterfly kisses all over her chin, her neck, the top of her chest. Her body jerked with pleasure.

Tentatively, she ran her hands over Owen’s shoulders as he pushed down the strap of her dress to expose her collarbone, running his tongue lightly from its edge and up towards her mouth, slowly, tantalisingly slowly, until he found her lips once more.

His hands moved to the middle of her back, fingers lightly brushing her skin, teasing, testing as far as he could go. She knew she wouldn’t back down, lost in the power of lust.

His mouth still on hers, she felt the zip to her dress slide down, shuddered with desire as he slid the material down her body. Once it was at her feet, she stepped out of it and he tossed it to one side. She stood in front of him in just her underwear.

‘Beautiful,’ he whispered.

Donna knew she was far from that but right now she didn’t care. His flattery was all she needed. She reached behind to undo her bra, thankful that she had put on her best lace. She let that drop to the floor, her eyes firmly on his, defying him to look away.

He stared at her for a moment but as she stepped into his arms again, his eyes dipped, followed quickly by his mouth.

She groaned as he took her nipple in his mouth, his tongue circling it, gently biting it. She arched her back, then decided to grab the bottom of his shirt. She needed to see him too. Trying to concentrate as her passion soared, her skin on fire with his touch, she undid the buttons and slipped his shirt off his shoulders, gasping at the firmness of his chest. She pulled at the sleeves and the shirt joined her dress on the floor.

He pushed her gently down onto the bed. As he kissed her again, he lay next to her.

And then he stopped.

She looked into his eyes with confusion.

‘Do you want me to continue?’ he asked, his voice low.

‘Do
you
want to continue?’ Oh, God, please don’t let him change his mind now that he had seen her naked.

‘Yes, but...’ Owen sat up and reached for his shirt.

‘What’s wrong?’

He turned to her with a look that made tears well in her eyes.

‘I’m a little scared,’ he admitted.

‘Of me?’ She spoke quietly.

‘Of what’s happening to me; of the intensity of my feelings for you. This has all happened so quickly.’

Donna sat up, bringing her knees to her chest as she felt exposed. ‘I’m not sure I understand.’

He sighed. ‘You’re not the only one scarred by someone else.’

‘Oh.’

‘Oh.’

‘But I’m not her.’

‘Right.’

‘And incidentally, you’re not him.’

‘So…’ he glanced at her, ‘technically, it’s just you and me.’

‘Yes.’

‘And the moment.’

Donna sat still, unable to breathe. Had the moment passed? Had he worked himself, and her, up to the heights of something new, something promising, for it all to be taken away at the last minute?

He turned to her slightly. ‘You don’t know what I’m capable of.’

‘I thought I’d been about to find out.’

He moved towards her again, covering her body with his own. The relief was immense when his mouth found hers once more and his hand roamed over her breast before moving lower. She reached down for him too, trying to concentrate on giving him pleasure as her body craved more.

Finally, he pushed himself into her. Moving together, she felt familiar waves rush through her. Oh, this was so good.

With a groan, Owen thrust one last time and she pulled his buttocks towards her to feel him as close to her as she could.

As her breathing began to return to normal, Donna realised that the moment had gone better than she had first hoped.

Afterwards, Owen leant on his elbow and ran his fingertips over her stomach. ‘That was special,’ he said.

Donna couldn’t help but well up again. She smiled, hoping her tears wouldn’t fall.

‘I enjoyed it too,’ she replied.

‘So we can do it again, sometime?’

‘Absolutely.’

He pulled her into his arms and, as they lay together in silence, all she could think of was how vulnerable Owen was. What had his last partner done to make him feel that way?

She would have to find out more, make him realise that no matter what had happened, she would never do anything to hurt him.

Donna knew that during her earlier years, she had been brash. She’d had a loud mouth that said a lot of things she’d since regretted. She might have been hurt by the one man she had truly loved, but everything had built up her character. Circumstances had made her stronger, but also eager to please and sometimes it had made her seem like a pushover.

But one thing was certain. Donna knew she could never hurt a man who would show himself to her in such a raw, emotional state.

Which meant another thing. She would be good for Owen, if he would have her.

Lewis staggered down Davy Road in the direction of Graham Street. At least he hoped he was going the right way towards home. It was nearing midnight. He’d been struggling to focus on anything since leaving The Butcher’s Arms ten minutes ago.

The night air was warm again, the area quiet; the odd light was on here and there as he passed, but most houses were in darkness. Windows were open everywhere, hoping to create a cool enough atmosphere for sleep.

If Lewis had been a bit more sober he would have stayed out a while longer. Walking around the streets during the early hours of the morning was often peaceful, giving him space to clear his head. Right now though, all he wanted to do was lay his head down and sleep. Why did he think he could drown his sorrows? It never worked, plus he was wasting what little benefits he received. It just made him feel twice as bad the next morning – usually accompanied by the headache from hell.

Up ahead, he heard noises. He stared into the darkness, trying to focus. Finally, he saw the shapes of two people coming towards him. Their laughter was loud, but their banter seemed friendly. Lewis dug his hands in his pockets and stuck out his elbows as they drew nearer.

Two boys in their late teens edged either side of him as they passed him on the pavement. The stocky one had his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans too, shoulders hunched forward. He had more hair on his chin than his head and reminded Lewis of an upside down Mr Potato Head toy. The other youth was the same height but slight in weight. His hair was flattened down except at the front where a fringe had been gelled in a point towards the sky.

‘All right, mate?’ the thin one nodded at him.

‘I’m not your fucking mate,’ Lewis spat back.

‘What did you say?’

‘Are you deaf?’ Lewis turned to face them and took his hands out of his pockets, trying not to shuffle on his feet. ‘I said I’m not your–’

‘Yeah, I heard you. What’s your problem?’

‘You’re my fucking problem,’ Lewis slurred.

The stocky lad moved towards him. ‘I’d watch your mouth if I were you, old man.’

Lewis lashed out at him. Even in his drunken state, his hands moved quickly, but they missed their target completely.

A fist caught him on the side of his face. The other youth stepped forward to grab him too. Lewis managed to catch him full in the face before he was rushed by both of them and grabbed around his chest. He lost his footing and the bigger male fell to the ground on top of him.

Lewis felt another punch to the side of his head, swiftly followed by another to his mouth. As his own fists flailed around in the dark, theirs did more damage, and he tasted blood.

Finally, Lewis managed to push them off.

‘I’d watch your back if I were you,’ the skinny lad said, spitting on the floor at Lewis’s feet after he had stood up.

Lewis lifted his head from the floor and dropped it back again as a rush of nausea came over him.

‘Stupid fuckers.’ He pushed himself to his feet and held onto the side of a car to support himself. ‘You hear me, you stupid FUCKERS!’

When he didn’t retaliate again, the two boys went on their way.

Once more, Lewis staggered off in the direction he thought was home. He knew it would take him longer to get back now; already he could feel the ache across his eyes. He’d hoped he wouldn’t get another shiner. He’d never get a job interview looking like a hooligan.

Lewis swore out loud. A few months ago, he wouldn’t have let two teenagers get the better of him. Was he losing his head completely?

Maybe that housing officer, that Josie Mellor, was right. Perhaps he did need to see someone about his anger, see if he could get it under control. Surely he shouldn’t be feeling this way after so long out of the army?

An image of Nathan flashed into his mind and he quickly dismissed it.

What would his friend think of him if he could see him now? He’d be ashamed, wouldn’t he?

Chapter Twenty-Two

Keera sighed with relief when Derek drove past The Candy Club ten minutes later and the lights were off. Everything looked fine. At least Steve didn’t seem to have gone back to Ramona, something else Keera had worried about on her walk home. She hadn’t even been able to warn her friend as she’d had no phone.

‘There’s the alleyway.’ She pointed ahead to a gap in between two buildings. ‘He took me down there.’

She noticed Derek bristle as he parked up. He removed his seatbelt. ‘I’ll go and look for it. I won’t be a minute.’

‘I’ll come, too.’

‘No, I’d rather—’

But Keera was out of the door before he could say anything further. Derek retrieved a torch from the boot of the car, and they crossed over the road. He headed into the alleyway, Keera following close behind. A feeling of déjà vu overcame her and she retched. What a bastard Steve Wilson was, thinking he could threaten her and get his own way.

‘Do you know where it’s likely to be?’ Derek whispered loudly as he walked on ahead. ‘It’s so dark down here, I can hardly see what I’m treading in.’

‘Yuck.’ Keera lifted up a foot at the thought. ‘I can remember going past those bins.’

After a few moments, shapes became a little clearer as they bumbled around. Keera had almost given up when a minute later, she squealed.

‘I’ve found it,’ she cried, lifting it up in the air. She unzipped it quickly and looked inside. ‘Everything is still here! My phone, my purse, my keys! Thank God for that – at least I won’t get a bollocking for waking my mum up to get in now!’

‘Great stuff.’ Derek put a hand on the small of her back and gently pushed her out of the alleyway. ‘But I think we’d better get out of here, before we get caught and we
haven’t
been doing anything, if you know what I mean.’

Keera sniggered as he followed her.

‘Thanks, Derek,’ she said as they hit the pavement again. ‘You’ve saved my skin.’

‘I can’t have you getting into trouble or worse, losing your job now, can I?’

’It wouldn’t be the end of the world. I’ve had better ones.’ She glanced at him with embarrassment. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean that I wasn’t grateful for it. I am, really. It’s just that my family don’t know what I do. They think I work in a nightclub, and that’s why I work late.’

‘Ah. But you’re one of the good girls, Keera – aren’t you?’

‘Yes, I bloody well am!’ she snapped. ‘I’ve told you before, I don’t do extras.’

‘I know!’ Derek held up his hands. ’I didn’t mean anything by it.’

‘Sorry.’ The smell of food from the takeaway made Keera’s stomach rumble. ‘Do you fancy getting something to eat?’ she asked, feeling embarrassed at her outburst. ‘The kebab shop is a great place, really clean too. My treat for you saving my life.’

‘That’s a bit dramatic.’

‘It’s only an offer of a kebab.’ She grinned. ‘What do you say?’

‘Okay. I’ll wait here.’ Derek got back into his cab.

‘Don’t you dare put that meter on!’ she joked.

There were several people waiting for food at the kebab house, so Keera gave their order and went to sit on a plastic chair while it was prepared. Through the window, she could see Derek’s car, just about make out his shape in the driver’s seat. She clasped her hands together, still a little shaky after what had happened.