Page 32 of Heartless (Scathing Hearts #1)

Jake

I moved gently inside her tight pussy and nuzzled her throat. I’d never come at the same time as a woman before. Sienna Winslow had gotten me twisted inside out. And fuck, but I didn’t want to find my way back.

Her soft hand grazed my jaw then her fingertips traced my brows. The tenderness of her touch burned through my chest, and my cock thickened.

Pressing deeper inside her, I kissed her small gasp. “Be with me, baby.”

On a soft giggle, she said, “Jake, you’re still inside me. I couldn’t be more with you than I am now.”

“No, Sienna. Be with me.”

“I am, Jake.”

Something inside me cracked open, filling up with her. All of her.

Her body wiggled with a chuckle. “What’s funny, kitten?”

Rounding her arms around my neck, she slanted back. “Do I really moan when we kiss? You asked me if I moaned when Matt—”

“Don’t say another’s man fucking name while you’re naked under me.”

Biting on her smile, she murmured, “All right, all right.”

Damn, she was beautiful.

I tightened my arms around her, and when she yawned against my neck, I kissed her hair.

****

Sienna

Camila was bent at the waist over the kitchen table with her back to me. “Good morning, Camila.”

After incredible morning sex, I’d fallen back to sleep and woken up alone.

Camila straightened with a smile, and her eyes widened, as she gave me a slow once over. “Jesus, Sia. Whatever happened has unleashed a lot, a lot of...” She made slow circles with her hand in a gesture meant to encompass the physical me. “Get ready for a lot of attention.”

Tipping my chin down to my old, misshaped sweater and ripped boyfriend jeans, I wasn’t sure what she saw. I was barefoot, and my hair was still damp.

“What do you mean?”

After our hug, she cupped my cheek. “You’re vibrating on a different wavelength.” The corners of her lips curved up. “A very, very attractive one. So prepare for the bees because you are pure honey.”

Heat crawled up my face, which made her chuckle. “What do you want for breakfast, today?”

“Coffee and something big.”

Camila started toward the stove. “I found some black pudding. Would you like an English brekkie?”

God. I loved this woman. My stomach growled its response before I did. “Oh yes, please. And thank you.” I joined her by the stove. “What can I do?”

“Get the juice and fruit.”

As I opened the fridge, she asked with a smile in her voice, “Why the big breakfast?”

I replied with my head in the fridge. “I have to pack to go home—”

A clattering sound preceded her gasp. “You’re leaving?”

Oh shoot. Jake hadn’t told her. After setting the apple juice, blueberries, and blackberries on the island, I returned to her side and interlaced our fingers.

“Nigel gave Jake his land back, so it’s time for me to leave.”

She tugged me to the kitchen table where she turned two chairs face to face. No coffee then.

We’d barely sat down when Camila grabbed both my hands. “What did Jake say?”

“He’s going to help my reinsertion into real life.”

My attempt at lightening up the heaviness hovering between us went flat, and tears brightened her eyes.

“Camila, I’ll be fine. Jake promised to do everything to keep me safe.” And he’d better since his little war with Nigel made me freaking homeless and jobless.

When her shoulders slumped, I leaned in. “What’s wrong?”

“What about us? I like you a lot.” Her lips pinched, and her head twitched. “Screw that. I love you, Sienna. If you go back, I’ll never see you again.”

I wasn’t sure she realized how much I valued the gift of her friendship. So, this time, tears burned behind my eyes.

“I love you too. We’ll keep in touch. In fact, I promise you right now that I’ll text or call at least twice a week. I’ve got my cell back, and now that I know where we are, as soon as I get my car back, your address will be saved in my GPS.”

She frowned while her head jerked back. “You didn’t know before?”

It hadn’t mattered then. “Nope. The man I thought I’d fallen in love with took me to his house in the woods for a surprise weekend.

So, I blindly followed and slept for three quarters of the trip.

” Giggling, I added, “From now on, I’ll be more understanding of the female characters in horror movies.

I’m proof that the promise of love makes you dumb. ”

She wasn’t even smiling. “Sienna, I know you’ve been through a lot, but giving up on love is—”

“I’m not.” I squeezed her fingers. “I’m just a little more careful, and that’s a good thing. Camila, I won’t let any of you get out of my life, and I’m addicted to your cooking and to pistachio gelato.”

We fell in each other’s arms and were locked in a tight, but kind of awkward half-seated hug when Jake appeared.

Camila unfolded to her feet. “Good morning, Jake.”

“Hey, Cam.”

While my heartbeat leaped to my throat, I stood up, completely captivated by his sexy prowl across the kitchen. In a black, long-sleeved thermal, dark wash jeans and well-worn boots, he was.... Was I supposed to want to jump his bones more after we’d had great—no marvelous—sex?

I slid my hands in the back pockets of my jeans and smiled. “Good morn—”

His arm banded around my lower back to fuse me against him while his other hand cupped my nape. Then, his mouth was on mine. My hands flew out of my pockets, and I gripped his shoulders.

It wasn’t a light, ‘good morning’ peck. His tongue dove in as he pulled me onto my toes.

When he slanted my head at the angle he wanted me, my body hummed. He deepened the kiss, and I curled my arms around his neck.

The kiss ended, but his hold remained tight while the rumble of his voice feathered on my tingling lips.

“Good morning, baby.”

While I was busy getting my brain and vocal cords to work, he pecked my nose. “After you had something to eat, we’ll talk.”

Then, he casually stalked out of the kitchen.

“Ready for breakfast?” Camila asked, and her voice was trembling with laughter.

Still trying to catch my breath, I nodded.

****

Jake

Pacing to the window of my office, I finished giving Zook an update and rubbed the back of my neck.

Humor threaded his voice. “You’re keeping her close. Good. The insurance money will be released in a few days.”

“Thanks, Zook.”

“Ciao, son.”

I pocketed my cell and rolled my neck side to side.

The man I thought I’d fallen in love with. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on their conversation but hearing her comparing herself to a horror movie victim and calling herself stupid for falling for me had hit hard.

Cam was right, Sienna’s latent sensuality had exploded, making anyone with eyes in their head pant for her. If I’d stayed in the kitchen after that kiss, I’d have dragged her to the nearest bed and sunk deep inside her tight body. Fuck, I’d have taken her on any flat surface.

My cell beeped. Sile and his guy had arrived.

Minutes later, the door opened on Sile and a young woman with short hair, carrying a small, black backpack. Cam came out of the kitchen followed by Sienna who stayed a few feet behind with her hands in her back pockets.

The tech wiz flicked a casual hand in greetings and slung the backpack from her shoulder before jerking her chin toward me. “Just in the guest’s suite?”

After I’d confirmed, she sauntered down the hallway, but her pace slowed down when she reached Sienna.

“Gorgeous eyes,” the woman said. When Sienna smiled, she added, “Gorgeous everything.”

Yeah. Panting for her.

Cam lifted her frown at me. “What’s wrong with Sienna’s quarters?”

Ah fuck.

Sienna stepped beside her and took her hand. “My TV’s glitching.”

My beautiful Sienna winked at me, and warmth hit my chest. I reached for her, but her attention had turned to the front door, and her face lit up.

“Hi, Silas.”

He spread his arms. “Morning, sweetie.”

She threw herself at him, and I curled my fists in my pockets.

****

The tech wiz had left after sliding her contact details to Sienna who’d giggled while accepting them.

We’d gathered in the family room. As she usually did, Sienna had settled, cross-legged in the nook of the sectional.

Cam had taken to the arm of the couch behind her, and Sile had sat in the armchair closest to the women while I’d lowered myself onto the coffee table, facing her.

“There’s an available condo in my building. It’s a large one-bedroom with a den and a terrace, four floors down from the penthouse.”

Her shoulders contracted. “Jake, that’s—”

“Baby, we’ve talked about this. I’ll also give you the keys to the penthouse.”

Cam brushed her hand on Sienna’s hair. “That sounds like a good plan, and Jake will be close if you need him.”

Sienna’s darkened gaze slid to Sile, who leaned in. “You’re uprooted again?”

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she nodded. “I guess I’m just adjusting to this new normal.”

Cam made a noise between her teeth that made Sienna tilt her chin up.

“Sia, you were born with a broken heart which is bigger than most people’s. Your mother looked like Miss England and sounds like she could have given Ted Talks on maternal love, and your genitor is the creepier version of Darth Vader. So fuck normal. No?”

At that, Sienna’s throaty giggle jetted out. Cam’s grin turned into full blown laughter while Sile shook his head with a smirk. When their laughter dwindled, the melancholy in Sienna’s expression had gone.

She angled her smile at me. “Can you recommend a good lawyer?”

The question made me tense. “Anything, baby. What do you need it for?”

“I need help with drawing up a living will. So, if I suddenly end up braindead, I don’t want my organs to be donated. If Nigel is as evil as I think he is, that should prevent him from turning me into a shrimp.”

“A shrimp?” Cam croaked.

“You know, get rid of the head and enjoy the body.”

Heat throbbed in my temples.

****

Sienna

Yeesh. I hadn’t expected applause, but at the look on everyone’s faces, my little joke was not funny.

A distressed sound came out of Camila’s throat, and I weaved my fingers between hers. “It’s a crappy joke, I’m sorry.”

Her face was pale as she squeezed my hand. “Sia, it’s not the joke. The idea is... horrifying.”

Shoot. She was really upset. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Camila.”

“I’ll have one of my lawyers meet with you, but if Morrison goes anywhere near you, I’ll fucking kill him myself,” Jake vowed.

That frown was murderous. Silas’s expression was a close twin.

“Amen,” Camila muttered.

My stomach flipped a little. They were in my corner. My heart curled up in the warmth of that knowledge for a few seconds. Then, I sat up. I had some packing to do.

I tugged Camila’s hand. “Will you help me pack? And maybe we can call Bianca?”

Finally smiling, she nodded.

“The movers will do it,” Jake said.

“I’d like to pack my own things this time.”

Jake’s gaze softened and heated at the same time in a way I felt in my heart and between my legs. “Okay, baby.”

****

Standing amidst the boxes in the living room of my quarters, I scanned the sunlit space.

Huh. It’d taken less than three hours to pack my whole life. Camila made the whole process fun though. We’d called Bianca who’d promised to return to help me move in.

When Jake and Silas entered, I threw my hands toward the boxes. “Voila!”

Jake scanned the room. “Well done.”

“Good job, you two,” Sile added with a wink.

Jake got close, curled his hand around the side of my neck before placing a soft peck on my lips. I tilted my chin down to hide my shiver. We needed to have a conversation about this because that was a lot of kissing. Intoxicating kisses. But still.

Camila set her hands on her hips. “My work here is done. There’s tiramisu in the fridge, but I can’t stay for lunch.” She turned to Jake. “You’re on your own for dinner.”

“Thanks Cam, I’ll grill some steaks.”

Jake grilled? After a quick kiss on her cheek, I said, “Thank you, Camila.”

While she strutted toward the door, I smiled at Silas. Tiramisu was one of his favorite desserts, too. “More tiramisu for us.”

Brushing past Jake, he gave me his usual bear hug and kiss on the head. Then he slanted back. “I’m not staying, sweetie.”

Oh no. With my arms still around his waist, I watched his handsome face. It was selfish, but I wanted a last lunch with him.

“Please, stay. It’s my last lunch here, and watching ‘American Horror Stories’ with you was one of my first good memories.” I grinned. “And there’s tiramisu.”

“If you’re gonna twist my arm, sweetie.”

Laughing, I teased back. “Not me. Tiramisu.” I turned to Jake. “I’m going to set the table. Do you want to eat in the kitchen or on the terrace?”

“Wherever you want, baby.”

“The kitchen.”

Jake’s lips twitched. “Bugs?”

Giggling, I nodded.