Fractured

  I don’t want to ruin the mood by teasing her any further, so instead I take charge. “Stand and take your clothes off,” I instruct her. She barely hesitates before sitting up to kick her shoes off and then rising gracefully to her feet. She makes eye contact with me and never looks away as she pulls off first her shirt and then her bra, dropping them to the floor. This isn’t a slow, erotic striptease; she wants the clothing off because she’s completely turned on. “That’s good, baby,” I praise her as she unsnaps her jeans and shimmies them down her hips, taking her underwear with them. She has learned to work around her cast and is proficient now in dressing…and undressing with it.

  In what seems like record time, she is standing before me naked and almost defiant. I have a hard time containing my grin. She is telling me without words that she won’t back down. She knows well that I never thought she would go through with this. My baby picks odd times to let her competitive nature come out; I fucking love it. “Lie on the bed and put a pillow under your ass.” She follows my orders perfectly, taking only seconds to get into position. I sit up on the bed, unable to do anything but look at her. God, she is so beautiful she steals the breath from my body.

  I almost choke on my tongue when she says in a bored tone, “Are we doing this or not?” Instead of laughing, as I want to, I decide on a little payback.

  “Stay where you are. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” With those words, I stand and walk into the bathroom, closing the door behind me before leaning against the wall and laughing my ass off. How many other women could step so far out of their comfort zone and then neatly turn the tables? I know her well enough to understand that lying there exposed like that is probably killing her, but she won’t back down. I’m betting right about now she’s cursing me under her breath and trying to talk herself out of covering up with the comforter.

  Unfortunately for her, I have a big problem to take care of before I go back. Yeah, if you’ve ever wondered if it’s true about men jacking off before a big date, then let me answer that question: abso-fucking-lutely. I know I’ll give in and fuck her too soon if I don’t relieve some pressure. Therefore, I kick off my shoes and lower my pants and boxers. I’m so hard that no extra foreplay is needed. I go straight for the long, rough strokes, and within an embarrassingly short amount of time, I’m shooting into my hand. My moans of satisfaction have probably alerted Lia as to what’s going on. I’m betting she wants to kill me right about now. I take my time washing my hands and pulling off my shirt before walking back into the bedroom. I feel somewhat better, but I’m still hard, and looking at Lia lying with her legs open isn’t doing anything to help that.

  She’s glaring daggers at me as I smirk at her. “Should I have been taking care of things on my end, as well?” she asks in a snide voice.

  I manage to keep my expression impassive, but it’s a struggle. “Oh, no, baby, you don’t take care of anything until I’m here to watch.” I sit on the side of the bed, near her hip, and idly stroke my hand down her leg, stopping just short of the juncture of her thighs. The smell of her arousal is causing my head to spin, and I know I’m only killing myself by torturing her. My control seems to have left the building. She gasps out as I drop my hand between her legs and circle her clit. She had obviously been expecting me to continue to deny her my intimate touch. I push a finger into her experimentally, finding her wet and swollen. She moans as I add another digit, sliding them easily in and out. “I think you’re wet enough to take that big, purple friend of yours without my help. Is thinking of that what’s got you this hot?” I’m not sure if I want to know the answer to that question. I don’t think I’m ready to share her, even if the other cock is plastic.

  “Mmm, no,” she moans.

  “Then what has you this wet?” I ask as I add a third finger, stretching her tight channel.

  Her hands drop to her breasts, taking her nipples between her fingers and tugging on them. Shit, I’m feeling lightheaded. “You…watching me,” she finally replies. Well, hell. I pull my fingers from her pussy before I lose it. I stick them in my mouth, sucking each one clean of her spicy essence before slowly backing away. I need some distance between us now.

  “All right, baby, show me how you fuck yourself,” I say as I settle in the chair at the foot of the bed, close enough to see perfectly and far enough away to keep myself from touching her. I hold off giving her further instructions because I want to watch her take charge of her own pleasure.

  She leans forward to grab the purple vibrator, and then relaxes back with it lying across her stomach. She pulls on a nipple with the two free fingers of her injured hand while dropping the other to her pussy. My eyes are riveted as she massages her nipple into a stiff peak while pushing one finger inside her wet heat. Shit, at this rate, I’ll never make it until she uses the vibrator. I’m on the verge of yelling mercy when she finally picks up the big cock and lowers it to her slit. She moves it up and down, coating the tip in her juices before settling the tip against her entrance. “Luc,” she whimpers as she pushes the head inside.

  Fuck me; I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything hotter than her taking that plastic cock while moaning out my name. Did she do that when she was alone in her apartment? Did she imagine the vibrator was my cock as she fucked herself with it? “Take all of me, baby,” I shudder as she pushes it in to the hilt.

  I take my cock in my hands, pumping up and down as I watch her plunge the purple dick in and out of her pussy. She continues to moan my name as she grinds against the plastic base. I hear the hum as she flips it onto vibrate, and I see her body tense before jerking with her release. Fuck, I can’t take it anymore. I cross to her in two large strides and fall onto her like a hungry animal. She opens her eyes as I pluck the vibrator from within her body and throw it to the floor. I take a second to sheath myself in the condom she had thrown on the bed at some point. “Luc, please!” she cries as I take her ankles in my hands. I push her legs forward, completely exposing her ass and cunt, and I bury myself to the hilt. She takes me easily, still slick from her earlier orgasm. “Oh, God,” she shudders as I hold her legs close to her head and pump deep.

  I bottom out on each thrust, feeling my balls tighten as my release comes roaring to a head. I pull back slightly to pinch her clit, hoping to hell she is close because I can’t hold off much longer. When she screams and her body clenches, I blow. I shoot load after load of cum into the condom as I come…hard. Her body milks everything I have. I drop her legs and then collapse over her thighs. I wince as my cock slides halfway out of her. I know I need to withdraw completely and dispose of the condom, but I can’t resist pushing back inside as I relax over her body. We stay connected as I lean down to slide my tongue in her mouth, kissing her languidly. “Holy hell,” I rasp against her now-smiling lips.

  “I can’t believe I did that,” she says shyly. “I’ve never…I mean…”

  “I know, baby.” I smile tenderly, dropping soft kisses on her neck. “Don’t ever feel embarrassed about anything we do in the bedroom or anywhere else. There isn’t a part of you I don’t adore.”

  “Ditto,” she says as she reaches up to cup my cheek, rubbing her hand lightly over my stubble. Wiggling her brows, she asks, “Did you really masturbate in the bathroom earlier or were you teasing me?”

  I start laughing and pull out of her snug body. I raise her leg up enough so I can pop her ass lightly before moving from the bed. “You just want the details, my little pervert. If you’re nice to me in the shower, I might do a little reenactment for you…” She jumps from the bed and runs after me. Yeah, I did hit the replay button for her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lia

  It’s been a week since I found out my stepfather was dead. A blissfully, uneventful, stress-free week. I have a meeting this morning with my financial advisor at school to see where my finances are for my last semester. I still have the money Lucian put in my bank account shortly after we met, but I don’t want to use it. I’m hopeful my schol
arships are enough to cover most of my expenses. Then I’m meeting Rose to see her new apartment.

  After my attack in the basement of our old place, neither of us could bear to live there anymore. She would love for me to move back in with her, but she is okay financially without a roommate. She comes from money and only had roommates because she enjoyed the company. I plan to talk with Lucian about our living arrangements. Even though I’ve been staying at his apartment for months, I don’t want to just assume that he wants me there permanently. I think it’s important that we both know where things stand between us. He knows I love him, and even though I feel that he loves me as well, he hasn’t said the words yet.

  I walk into the kitchen to one of my favorite parts of the day: Lucian in his suit, sans the jacket, sitting at the bar watching the morning stock report. He looks so delicious that I want to wrap myself around him and never let him go. He has a cup of coffee sitting next to a multi-grain bagel with blueberry cream cheese. I smile knowing he’s made a trip down the street to the bakery on the corner. He looks up as if sensing my presence and smiles. “Hey, baby. I was getting ready to come find you. Your coffee is getting cold.” He turns on the stool, opening his arms and legs for me to step between them. He kisses me thoroughly and I lick at his lips. He tastes of coffee and hazelnut creamer.

  “Mmm,” I hum when he finally releases me. I flush when he catches me sniffing him before I pull away.

  He winks as if to say, ‘caught ya.’ “So, what time do I need to have Sam return to pick you up this morning? If you’re going early, I can just drive myself to the office.”

  I shake my head as I take a bite of my bagel. “Um, no. I don’t need Sam today. I’m driving myself.”

  He reaches a fingertip out, wiping some of the cream cheese from my lip and sticking it in his mouth. Dear Lord, that was hot. “Your car is a death trap. I need to have a mechanic check it over. Or better yet, I’ll just get you a new car.”

  “Lucian Quinn,” I snap around the bite of food in my mouth. I swallow and add, “You will do no such thing. My car is just fine. I don’t need to be dropped off like some snotty rich girl today.”

  He chuckles, tweaking my nose. “God forbid you be mistaken for that. Nevertheless, if you would please take the Range Rover just to put my mind at ease. I’ll have Sam check your car out.” When I open my mouth to protest he says, “It’s been sitting for weeks without being driven. It’s the responsible thing to do, baby.”

  I grudgingly agree that he has a valid point. I think things are going well, until he pulls his wallet out and hands me his black credit card. “What’s this for?” I ask, looking at him in confusion.

  “For your tuition and any books or supplies you may need.”

  I drop the card in front of his plate. “I have a scholarship for that.”

  He sighs, not picking up the card. “Lia, you don’t need to depend on aid. I’ll pay for your schooling. Let someone else who needs the help have it. I want to take care of you.”

  I can’t decide if I’m mad at him for trying to take over my life or touched he would care enough to want to. Maybe a little of both, which is why I’m not screaming right now. “Lucian, I need to do this on my own. I worked hard to get that scholarship, and dammit, I deserve it. I know you want to help me, and I love you for it, but don’t ask me to stop being who I am. I want to be the woman in your life who you respect, not another obligation.”

  He closes his eyes for a moment, processing my words. “This is important to you,” he says.

  I know it was more of a statement on his part than a question, but I answer anyway. “Yes, it is. I need to see this through myself.”

  “Okay, baby,” he says softly as he wraps a hand around my neck, pulling my forehead to his. As is also the normal morning routine, the doorbell rings, and we both know it’s Sam. Lucian drops a kiss on my lips, and then stands to pull on his jacket. “Be careful today, and please call and let me know how it goes?”

  “I will,” I promise as I follow him to the door. Sam and I say hello and Lucian drops another kiss on my lips before leaving. I feel like I’ve won a small victory…he took his credit card with him. Maybe there’s hope to tame my alpha male after all.

  Lia

  I park Lucian’s Range Rover in the parking lot of the financial aid offices. Ms. Gaston is waiting for me when I reach her office. The campus is still quiet since classes don’t start back for a few more weeks. “Lia, come in. I was just going through your records.” I have a seat in front of her desk and watch as she slips her glasses back on before studying the monitor in front of her. “You kept an A average in all of your classes last semester which is above the requirement level, so you’re fine grade-wise. Your scholarships are available.” Then looking confused, she adds, “I’m just not sure why you scheduled this meeting to process the paperwork.”

  Now I’m even more confused than she looks. “Er…why wouldn’t I? Classes start soon, and I need to begin buying my books and supplies. I’ll need the money from the scholarships to do that.”

  “Lia…you don’t need a scholarship when your tuition has already been paid in full. You also have a more than sufficient overpay to take care of anything else you might need for your classes. I mean, were you confused about the amount of money you would need? If so, I can assure you that you’re more than covered.”

  My head is spinning, and I feel sick to my stomach. How could Lucian do this without discussing it with me first? Why hadn’t he told me he had already paid for my schooling when we talked about it earlier? How dare he let me find out this way! I’m literally shaking with anger and Ms. Gaston is starting to shift uneasily in her seat at the expression on my face. Somehow, I manage to keep my voice level and below a scream as I ask, “Could you please print out something, a receipt, or anything showing when and how the money was paid for my records.”

  She looks surprised by my request then grateful to have something to do other than deal with my anger. “Sure, dear. I can do that.” It takes her just a minute to click a few buttons, then hand me a piece of paper off her printer. She gets to her feet, ushering me toward the door. “Now, just let me know if you have any other questions.” I don’t bother to reply as I stalk out into the hallway. When I reach Lucian’s car, I get behind the wheel and slump back. Out of curiosity, I smooth the wrinkled paper out, checking to see what date he paid my tuition. It’s dated ten days earlier. I’m just folding the paper when something catches my eye. Under the notes section of the receipt, it says, ‘PAID VIA CREDIT CARD. LEE JACKS, FALCO CORP.’

  I stare at the piece of paper, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. Lee Jacks? The name sounds so familiar, but I can’t place where I know it from. Suddenly it hits me, and I feel completely foolish. This is obviously a mistake. They must have applied this payment to my account in error. If I hadn’t caught this, Lee Jacks would certainly be angry when he found out his daughter or son’s tuition was unpaid.

  I’m just opening my door to go back to Ms. Gaston’s office when I see her shutting the door to her tan sedan a few spaces down. Before I can get out of my car to stop her, she’s pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath. Today is the last day the financial aid office was open until next week. I have no doubt this mistake cost someone a lot of money, and they need to know so they can have it corrected. Then it should clear the way for me to access my scholarships.

  I take my phone from my purse and Google Falco Corp, looking for their phone number. I’m thrilled to see that their headquarters is just across town, not far from Quinn Software. I’ll just go explain the mix-up in person and have it taken care of today. I plug their address into the Rover’s GPS system because it’s easy to miss a turn in the downtown area and it’s far too hectic to backtrack.

  As I’m driving toward Falco, I feel rather like a bitch for assuming the worst about Lucian. Thank God, I had the fortitude to ask for the receipt before I went to his office to tear into hi
m. I was so pissed off; I doubt I would have believed any denial on his part. It’s always been hard for me to trust people, for obvious reasons, but I need to try harder to listen first and react later. I can’t hold him accountable for my screwed-up childhood.

  When I reach the offices of Falco, I inwardly groan. The building is a huge, glass and metal tower. I have to drive past it and park in a public lot three blocks away. Maybe I should have just called after all. I’m breathing hard when I finally make it into the lobby. I really need to start exercising more.

  Wow, I thought the security in Lucian’s building was excessive. I’m waved toward a metal detector by one of four security guards as I move a few steps away from the door. They take my purse and run it through another scanner while I go through the full-body scan. I feel a tad violated when I’m finally handed my purse and pointed toward a reception desk. “Paranoid much?” I murmur under my breath as I approach the chic woman looking disdainfully at me. I straighten my shoulders, refusing to be intimidated. “I need to see Lee Jacks, please,” I say with all the confidence I can muster.

  “And you are?” she asks in a condescending voice which matches her expression perfectly.

  “Lia Adams.” She begins typing on the keyboard, probably to see if I have an appointment, which of course I don’t. I pull the tuition receipt from my purse, ready to plead my case when she looks up at me with something akin to shock on her face.

  “Oh, yes, Miss Adams. You’re clear to go on up. Let me have Craig escort you.” I’m still frozen in place when she motions to the closest security guard and tells him, “Please accompany Miss Adams to Mr. Jacks’ floor. I will let reception know she’s on the way.” Turning back to me with an expression completely devoid of its earlier sneer, she smiles sweetly. “It’s been a pleasure. Have a wonderful day.” I feel like muttering one of Lucian’s favorite sayings, ‘what the fuck?’ Instead, I give her what I hope passes for a smile and follow the guard toward an elevator in the corner. He says nothing as he waits for me to step inside before following me. He inserts a plastic keycard in a slot and the doors close. I’m dying to make some kind of joke to break the silence, but he doesn’t seem like the type to laugh at all.