Page 77 of Read With Your Heart

“We’ll still need you to come to the station,” he told me, more like a warning, and Tricia intervened again.

“He’s with me.” Her eyes leaped to mine, holding my gaze as if she held her breath. I nod to agree.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered, her eyes still on me, and I open my arms.

The next thing I know, she is in them, holding me as hard as I can hold her. We couldn’t get close enough with her bulky winter coat and I set her back only enough to unzip my leather jacket and pull her into my heat. Her arms circled my neck and she held tightly, breathing into my skin. Despite the thick clothing, her heart thudded through the layers, and I could only hope it mirrored the beat of mine.

+ + +

Tricia gave a statement, admitting all that Trent had done to her—past and present. It made me sick to listen. The emotional abuse and physical touches, no matter how minor she tried to make them sound, were too much. I’d beat him all over again for laying a finger on her or saying a word that was untrue or unkind.

Unfortunately, without physical evidence, as she’d never reported anything in the past, it was her word against Trent’s. She still gave them the truth—all of it. I wished I had known. I would have taken more care with her. Then again, it shouldn’t have mattered. I should have taken care either way. If she meant everything to me, then I should have been here, and a lot sooner than two weeks ago. I should have been here years ago to shield her from this path.

Unable to change my past, I held her hand tighter while I give my own statement.

Jess Carter had asked me to meet him at this off-the-path restaurant for a drink, and I should have known something was up. I’d been waiting and waiting, thinking I’d been stood up, and went outside for some air.While I was standing near the entrance, I heard what sounded like a struggle and took a walk around the side of the building. My gut told me to move, and thank God, I listened. I heard her scream. Then I saw her car but not her. Searching, I found him bent into the open door of his truck. I didn’t even know it was him or her until I got closer. The sharp wail of a car horn. The grunt of a man. Whoever he was, he was struggling to get someone into his truck, and that person was struggling to get out. I pulled him back, catching him unaware. My eyes hardly registered her and blindly leaped to him.

My fists flew into action, and the rest was witnessed.

Trent went to the hospital for severe facial damage. He’ll have black eyes and a broken nose, maybe loose teeth and a swollen lip. He deserves so much more. My fingertips on his neck definitely left soon-to-bloom bruises and should be a warning. He doesn’t deserve to breathe her air.

We’ve hardly spoken since we arrived back at her place. After giving our statements, we retrieved our rides from the restaurant. Driving my bike is cold and dangerous on the snow-covered roads, but it’s all I have. I trailed Tricia home. Without an invitation, I followed her into the house. She led me up the stairs and pointed at the bathroom.

“I just want a quick shower,” she finally says to me, and I nod.

“I’ll check on Lys.” If I can shield my sister from all that’s happened tonight, it will be a small blessing. At least I’ll get things right somewhere.

However, I don’t want to let Tricia leave my sight, so after a brief wave to Lys and a suggestion to go to bed soon, I let myself into the bathroom. And hear Tricia’s sobs.

My girl held it together for a long time, both tonight and in the past, and she’s reached her breaking point. I strip from my clothes and enter the shower. She doesn’t even look up surprised. She turns and falls into my bare chest, hands covering her face.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she mutters.

“You have nothing to apologize for.” I wrap her in my arms and press her against my skin, wishing I could take away all her pain and wipe away all her memories of him. We stand like this for several minutes until her sobs subside . . . and then her lips come to my chest. Her mouth opens, and she sucks at my skin.

“Tricia, baby, whatcha doing?” I’m not going to be able to disguise what she’s doing to me. Between the fight and holding her naked against me, I’m rock hard, but I wasn’t going to pressure her in any manner. I just want to be here for her.

Her mouth moves to my nipple. She runs her tongue over it and nips at the tight point. I flinch at the sensation, and her mouth opens again, sucking at the sensitive skin. I hiss in response. My fingers slip up into her dark, wet hair and tug her head back.

“What are you doing?” My voice growls because I’m on edge. I’m trying so hard to ignore my stiff dick pressed against her wet skin, but I can’t pretend I’m not excited if she’s going to taste me like this.

“I want to feel you,” she whispers. “I want to know you’re really here.”

“I’m here, baby.” I bend enough to take her mouth, the kiss more aggressive than I should be with her tonight. I quickly slow us down and pull back.

“I need you,” she says, her voice quiet while her eyes beg me. “Please Leon. I need you.” I’m thinking she means we need to move to her bed. Instead, she spins before me. She takes my hand and slides it down the front of her body, moving my fingers to her heat.

Sweet Jesus. I growl her name again.

Her head tips back to my shoulder as her backside presses against me, slowly swaying side to side over my dick.

“I want you inside me,” she says as the water streams around us, and I slip two fingers into her, giving her what I think she wants. She rocks on them, taking me into her and keeping up her sultry dance against my bare skin. My mouth lowers to her neck, nipping at her skin and moving to her shoulder. She twists her head, and our mouths connect as she takes my fingers deep. She pulls back, her mouth open, and I know she’s on the edge. I’d touched her body numerous times before I left, but I’ll never get enough of her. She breaks around me, and I capture her moans as she comes on my fingers.

As she settles, she surprises me again. She leans forward and places one hand on the tile. Her other hand blindly reaches behind her and tugs at my dick. Her warm palm is heaven around me, and she squeezes, sliding her hand over me, moving me in such a way that my tip taps her ass.

“Tricia,” I warn her.

“Inside me,” she says. “Please. I want to feel you.”