Stripping Her Defenses Page 19

  Painfully, I got up to my feet with my bleeding finger clutched to my chest, then ran to the backdoor, slamming inside without looking.

  I ran straight to the bathroom, blood seeping through my clasped fingers.

  I passed Winter on my way, but didn’t acknowledge her. Instead, I went for expediency, forgoing the niceties in exchange for prolonging the life of my brand new beige carpet.

  Blood wasn’t the easiest to clean up. I should know. I’d been a paramedic for eight years now.

  Without thinking, nor acknowledging the fact that the door was closed when I’d specifically remembered leaving it open, I barreled through the door, and ran to the sink.

  I cursed as the cool water hit my finger and shot a blast of pain coursing through my veins. “Goddamn, this hurts.” I muttered.

  “Looks like it.” A man said from behind me.

  Whirling around, I stared in shock at the man who was now zipping up the fly of his jeans. “What are you doing in my house?” I half screamed.

  The man grinned.

  If he hadn’t been so unbelievably hot, I might’ve had the common sense to be more scared than I actually was. However, my common sense took a flying leap out of the window and my attitude came out to play.

  “I was using the john. Then you burst in.” He said by way of explanation.

  “Why would you be using it in my house when I didn’t let you in?” I asked with a raised brow.

  “That would be my fault. I informed them that they needed to come help.” Winter said apologetically.

  Well if that didn’t take the wind out of my sails, nothing would. Reluctantly, I turned to the man I’d nearly seen with his pants down, literally, and smiled contritely. “I’m sorry. It was just surprising to have a strange man in my house.”

  He nodded, and then gestured to my still bleeding hand. “Do you need some help?”

  I looked down at my bleeding hand and groaned; I was a bleeder. I had von Weelbrand’s disease, which pretty much meant that if I cut myself, I would bleed.

  A lot.

  The disease guaranteed that any cut I received bled much more than it should.

  That didn’t even begin to take into effect my horrid periods. Those puppies lasted for way longer than they ever should have, which was how I knew I had the disease in the first place.

  I held out my hand and extended it to him, showing him the wound. “It’s not too bad. It’s actually just a scratch, but I have VWD, which makes me bleed more than normal. I end up pulling a Carrie way too often, if you ask me.” I teased.

  It was around that time that I realized I was in my sports bra and short shorts that would be illegal in the state of Utah. “Uhh, if you don’t mind, I’ll go change. I’ll be right back.”

  I didn’t wait for their agreement, I just ran to my bedroom. Then went to my stock of Band-Aids, double wrapped my finger, and then slipped out of my sweaty shorts, and bra.

  Just as I was about to change into a more sedate pair of shorts, I realized that the hair on my legs could rival Chewbacca’s, and decided that a quick shave was in order.

  Thirty minutes later, I was newly showered, shaved, and coiffed. Oh, and not to mention thoroughly embarrassed. I’d never meant to spend that long in the shower, but just thinking about the man I’d walked in on made my blood run hot.

  When I finally emerged from the bedroom after putting on a fresh Band-Aid, the crew of five men Winter had brought with her, were hard at work. On my deck.

  “Shit.” I cursed and rushed out the door.

  “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get the bleeding to stop.” I lied, holding up my finger and showing the group at large.

  Sure enough, my finger was bleeding through the second bandage, but that was entirely normal for me. It’d stop eventually. It always did; it just looked bad until it did.

  Winter knew of my condition, and didn’t look the least bit concerned. The big surprise was the man I’d walked in on earlier. He looked downright horrified.

  Oh, and his shirt was off.

  The man looked damn fine in his jeans. Shirtless, he could rival just about any man in the fire department I worked with. Which was saying something, because to be a firefighter, you had to be in shape. If you weren’t, lives could be at stake. People depended on a firefighter to save their lives; if their bodies weren’t honed into a perfect tool, then that could mean the death of someone.

  This man had abs on top of abs, if that were even possible. He also had scars. One on his right lower abdomen that most likely indicated he’d had an appendectomy. Then there was a thin long one that ran down his side from armpit to hip.

  Oh, and did I mention he had tattoos? They were delicious on his defined chest, and muscled arms. The entire length of the top of his arm was covered. A beautiful American Flag dominated his upper chest and bicep.

  That would also make it hard to find a vein on the man if he ever needed emergency attention.

  “You’ll have to forgive her. Baylee has an obsession with veins. She stares at everyone to judge how easy they’d be to get an IV on.” Winter teased.

  Kale

  By

  Chelsea Camaron & Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

  Copyright ©2014 Chelsea Camaron & Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

  in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

  She is the shy, quiet, nerdy girl. He is the hero.

  From childhood, she’s only had eyes for him. His only goal in life was to become a firefighter. One of the elite. A hotshot. He is one of the top smokejumpers from Krassel Yard.

  Smoke has clouded his vision. Never noticing the relationship they were already forming, he is surprised when the girl next door, growing up, is suddenly all woman and all he can think about.

  When the smoke clears, can he handle the flames of desire she draws out of him? Or will he leave her heart a smoldering pile of ashes?

  Excerpt:

  ~Kale~

  The crackle. The heat. The sweat. The smell of the burning pines, spruce, and fir trees all comes together.

  The burn deep in my chest grows with every breath, as my body seeks clean air. The adrenaline is rapidly coursing through me from the jump and the mission at hand. Dig the fire line, contain the flame before it can jump and spread further.

  The thankless, dangerous, exhilarating and, mostly, unnoticed job of a smokejumper. The job I proudly wake up and do without a second thought.

  It’s June in McCall, Idaho; early in fire season and we have our first wildfire of the year. The snowfall this winter was less than we usually get and the lack of rainfall has drawn all the moisture out of the underbrush. The small brush fire, from a campsite nearby, quickly and easily takes off. Rapidly becoming a full on wildfire as the campers try to flee to safety.

  The local firehouse is unable to control the blaze and calls in my team. Within twenty minutes, the eight of us are suited up, packs and parachutes attached, and are up in the DC-3 twin Otter preparing to go up. The aircraft takes off at elevation; the drop location quickly scouted and chosen. The hatch opens and streamers drop as we line up for jump order. At the opening, I look down at the streamers blowing, judging the wind direction and gusts while I wait.

  Deep breath in and the smoke hits my senses. It’s go time.

  Ice

  By

  Chelsea Camaron & Jessie Lane

  Copyright ©2014 Chelsea Camaron & Jessie Lane

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

  in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

  *Loosely attached to Chelsea Camaron's Hellions Series and Jessie Lane's Ex Ops Series.*

  She's an investment banker.

  He's an outlaw biker.

  A little bit of heaven is about to meet a whole lot of hell.

  Morgan Powell was raised to be perfect, to set an examp
le for her sisters to follow. Her life has been dedicated to making something of her career, so she wouldn’t know what to do with a man even if you gave her an instruction manual.

  Brett 'Ice' Grady spends his days trying to keep up with his teenage daughter, his nights consumed in Regulators’ MC business. He has no time for anything more than a casual hookup.

  Two worlds collide when the dangers of his life crash into the calm of hers.

  Can she go beyond her own boundaries and chip her way through to the man known to be as cold as ice?

  Excerpt:

  Chapter One

  ~Ice~

  “Suck harder. Right there… Fuck yeah, that’s it.”

  The half-naked platinum blonde kneeling in front of me sucks dick like a damn champ.

  “Shit! Dammit, Dad!” my teenage daughter Brooke suddenly shrieks from across the living room while covering her eyes with her hands. Her voice immediately kills my hard on.

  Pushing the bimbo off me, I stand to pull up my pants, wincing as I tuck my still sensitive cock away. I move forward to find my daughter, who is not supposed to be home today, and the blonde paws at me as I go to make my way past her. I would have preferred it if she’d run her mouth and taken off; instead, she’s pouting at me because we didn’t finish. I wish Brooke would have just given me five more minutes to get off, then I could have gotten rid of the broad on her knees. Tossing this barfly would be a hell of a lot easier then.

  “Get out. I’m done with ya,” I dismiss her, tired of the sulking look on her face. Damn, woman, take a hint already.

  With a huff, she rights her clothes, collects her things, and scurries out.

  Making my way down the hall of my not so modest home, I bark a sardonic laugh when I turn the knob to my daughter’s room and find it locked.

  “Open this door, young lady,” I order in what comes out as a bellow. We have danced this dance on more than one occasion.

  “Sorry, I’m busy searching for the eye bleach. I can’t unlock the door right now, check back later,” my sassy mini-me replies.

  “Don’t make me kick it in again. You want to go without a door again? Don’t traumatize us both. I don’t want to pass by and see you in your skivvies as much as you don’t want me to… or, worse, for Hammer to catch you.”

  I am hoping like hell she listens. Last time, I took the damn door right off the frame. Later on, I wished I hadn’t, though. It ended up punishing me as much as her when I had to listen to that boy band garbage she calls music.

  Within seconds, I hear her feet stomping over. There’s a click, a turn of the knob, and then my one true love in this life is glaring at me. The door may have won the first round, but this victory is mine. Having a teenager, I have learned to celebrate every win, no matter how small.

  “Brooke, what the fuck have I told you about your mouth? Young ladies shouldn’t cuss! It makes you sound like a damn delinquent.”

  “Yeah, Dad, real good speech you’re givin’. Father of the year material, you are.”

  “Don’t you get smart with me,” I say, knowing it’s falling on deaf ears. Not that I should be surprised. My mom has always liked to rub it in my face that Brooke gets her stubbornness from me.

  “Anyways”—her tone is just as sharp as before—“now that you’ve kicked the dog out, what are we doin’ for dinner?”

  That’s Brooke: my sixteen-year-old daughter, my life, my world, and my eternal pain in the ass. If her mom was still alive, maybe things would be different. Maybe. Only I don’t have time to play should-a, could-a, would-a in my head, because I am too busy raising her on my own.

  Erin, Brooke’s mom, was Brooke’s age when she got pregnant. We were young and dumb. Not once did we think of the consequences of our actions. Obviously, we didn’t think of protecting ourselves, or give a second thought to plans for the future. Condoms were preached to us, birth control, all that. Yet, when the time came, we went at each other like rabbits and never gave thought to all that shit people had lectured us about.

  When the little stick showed a pink line, I puked and Erin cried. Her parents immediately kicked her out and never got past it. With no job, no education, and nowhere to go, she moved in with my mom and me.

  My mom was determined that we would both finish high school. Stepping up to help us in every way she could, she worked two jobs to cover daycare costs, and then spent many nights up with baby Brooke so Erin and I could study or do homework. I was a senior, and Erin was only a junior in high school. It wasn’t easy, but we made it through. Having a family to support, I graduated and joined the Army right after.

  Leaving Erin and a barely one-year-old Brooke behind was hard, but I was focused on having a career to support us, not only a paycheck. My mom was supportive of my young girlfriend, helping out with Brooke as I was now gone more than I was home. Selection to Special Forces was hard, training even harder, but having my green beret was everything. I developed pride in myself, pride in my country, pride for my family, and pride in joining together with my brothers to give our all to something more than just ourselves. Young? Naïve? Yes, I was. However, drive, dedication, and commitment to my team were what pushed me through the realities of my situation.

  I thought life was going well for my family. I was making something of myself in the Army, somebody my wife and child could be proud of. Erin was supportive during my deployments and missions. She was always quick to show me how much she loved me. And my mom was enjoying the time she spent with both Erin and Brooke, especially while I was gone.

  Then the red-cross message came in while I was on a mission in Kosovo. When on a mission, communication to and from back home is limited, to say the least. There was no direct line to reach me. My mom followed protocol and used the red-cross to send the devastating news to my command, who then allowed it to trickle down to me.

  Erin was hit by a drunk driver. D-O-A, dead on arrival.

  She was nineteen years old with an almost three-year-old little girl at home, and just like that, she was gone.

  The woman who hit her was leaving a kid’s birthday party with her own two children in tow. According to the police report, she admitted to having a few glasses of wine at the party. The toxicology report showed a blood alcohol level double the legal limit. Doesn’t matter what any of the reports say, bottom line, she walked away with only minor injuries and her children. Meanwhile, my daughter will never get the chance to really know her mom.

  It’s the epitome of a fucked-up tragedy.

  Brooke will never see for herself the way Erin used to smile down at her as she fell asleep. Tuck the blankets around her little body. Sing her a lullaby. Kiss her on the forehead goodnight.

  She will never hear the melodic sounds of her mother’s laughter. God, I loved Erin’s laughter. It was loud and beautiful. Anyone who heard it either stopped and stared, or laughed along with her.

  Brooke had no mom to explain her body to her. That was a nightmare for me of epic proportions. What man wants his teenaged daughter to ask him what an orgasm feels like? I still shudder every time I remember that awkward conversation.

  She had no mom to do her hair for her first homecoming dance, or go dress shopping with her. Instead, I sprung for her to go to a well-known hairstylist and asked my mom to help her pick out a dress. I’ve already decided, for prom this year, I will give her my cash, and she can shop with her friends. When she comes home, she will twirl around in her dress, much like she did when she was a little girl, and I will tell her she’s beautiful.

  Brooke will never be able to see for herself that she is her mother’s daughter. No, my daughter misses all of this and so much more, all because of the poor choices of one individual.

  My mom stepped up after Erin’s death, practically raising Brooke until I got out of the Army three years ago. That was when my mom got the news of her cancer, and I had to step up. I had always been an active part of Brooke’s life while I was home, but then it was time to tackle twenty-four-seven single parenthoo
d.

  Needless to say, Brooke and I are still adjusting, especially after Mom lost her battle with cancer not quite six months ago. It has been hard, my lifestyle making it more challenging; however, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for my baby girl.

  Thinking about my mom and the influence she had on Brooke, I can’t help smiling. She did her best to teach Brooke, guiding her into young womanhood. She did not just instill in Brooke how to have confidence and be an independent girl, but also the basics around the house she was afraid I wouldn’t teach as a man.

  “You could cook, ya know? Grams taught you to bake cookies and shit,” I remind my teen.

  Brooke laughs her mother’s laugh. “Shit. If I cook, that’s what you’re gonna get for dinner.”

  In my days in the Army, I had enough MREs—Meals Ready to Eat—and tasteless chow hall grub to last me a lifetime. There’s no way I want to risk a dinner that tastes that bad again.

  “Steakhouse or Mexican?” I ask, turning to make my way back down the hall.

  “Mexican,” she replies, running past me to grab her helmet, letting me know she wants to take the bike.

  Spoiled rotten little shit. She knows I won’t deny her.

  ~Morgan~

  Looking at my phone screen, I smile at the text in front of me.

  I’m off 2nite. Movie @ ur house or mine?

  Texting back, I tell my best friend I will be at her house after work with takeout. It is not often she gets a Friday night off. Working in a bank, I have every weekend off. Casey’s career path is far different than mine, though, and it is one that requires weekend time.

  My day drags on as I review current investment portfolios and market changes. I have the best job ever. I get paid to spend other people’s money as an investment broker here in South Beach. My life is sun, sand, and dollar bills.