Page 49 of Heartless (Scathing Hearts #1)
Sienna
Since we’d burst into the store as if the bear had been chasing us—it hadn’t—I’d been trying to clear my mind. Running down that mountain for my life, more scared than I’d ever been, my only thought had been I wanted more days. More of everything.
Jake and Blue-Eyed Garrett had neared Thelma’s table.
She’d drawn us as superheroes. So, my eyes were huge, my hair was in a wild, voluminous, curly ponytail, and my body was impossibly toned.
The bubble over my head said, ‘BEAST’ with four exclamation points, and rings were drawn around my mouth, representing power coming from my voice.
Blue-Eyed-Garrett nodded slowly. “Those are fucking cool.”
On the same page as me, Kelly was a sexy gunslinger.
Her windbreaker jacket had become a stylish, long duster coat, and she was bracing for the guns attached to her hips with a toothpick hanging on the side of her smirk.
Thelma had instinctively captured her bodyguard vibe.
On the opposite page, Kelsey was brandishing a sword-type paintbrush raised high above her head while Brigit’s camera had turned into a laser-beaming weapon, and Cathy’s hands were hovering around a whirlpool, sculpting what looked like a maul or an axe.
Louise canted over Kelsey’s shoulder. “Where am I?”
Thelma grinned as she flipped to the next page. She’d drawn herself crouching with one knee on the floor and swirling on a wide sketchpad. Louise was standing next to her holding crayon-turned- arrows. But it was the word bubble that made me laugh. It said, ‘Where’s that damn car?”
Kelly laughed out loud, and as the rest of the group read it, their chuckles grew in volume and number.
Garrett’s cavernous bellow was the loudest, and in direct contrast with Erica’s closed lips smile.
Amidst the group’s growing hilarity, I touched Thelma’s arm. “Where’s Erica?”
“Yeah. Where is she?” someone asked. Maybe Cathy.
The turn of Thelma’s lips brought a glint in her eyes. She flipped the page again. “She’s here.”
Kelsey grabbed our guide’s hand to tug her closer to the table while Thelma rotated the sketchpad to face them. We all slanted in, and I gasped. The drawing was that awesome.
Erica had her own page. She stood at the forefront while we had become shadowed silhouettes sprouting in the background.
Her silky hair was loose, super long, and windswept.
She was braced for a fight with her fists clenched at her sides and her legs slightly bent at the knees.
Her gaze was steady on the threat, and her mouth was twisted in a challenging sneer.
The text in the bubble was, ‘Behind me, Sisters. Together, we’ll vanquish the beast.’
The near-empty diner imploded with claps, cheers, and hoots while Erica’s face flushed around her huge smile.
Cathy lifted her mug in a cheer. “To Erica, our super guide.”
With or without mugs, we all hollered. “To Erica!”
“You didn’t draw the bear,” Louise said.
Closing her sketchpad, the talented Thelma shrugged. “The bear was just a prop.”
“A fucking huge prop,” Kelly muttered.
Her comment led to everyone speaking at the same time.
“That thing was at least fifteen feet.”
“It wasn’t that big, it only looked like it because you’re short,” someone replied, eliciting more giggles.
Someone touched my shoulder, and I looked at Jake, whose expression was worried. I got up, and when he pulled me to his side, I wrapped my arms around his waist.
Blue-Eyed Garrett’s voice cut through the chatter. “Big dude stood no chance against you.”
Cathy shook her head slowly, and there was wonder in her voice. “Today’s so going into my blog.”
“Mine too. Awesome hike. Adventure, mud, bonding—”
“It’s called trauma bonding,” Brigit piped in.
Thelma scoffed. “I’m pretty sure that bear is not traumatized.”
That made me laugh, along with everyone else. Jake’s arm tightened, and he pecked my damp hair.
Cathy’s girlie voice rose. “We’re Erica’s first group.
We should take a selfie.” Turning to Erica, she said, “My best friend is a journalist. She was supposed to come today but she broke her ankle last week. When I told her about how great you were, she said she wanted to pen an article, a twist on the Bear and the Maiden lore. No idea what she meant but is it okay if I give your name and contact details for an interview?”
Erica’s widened gaze slid to Jake before she nodded. “Yes...Of course. Yes.”
“I’ll have to finish them first, but she can use my drawings for her article if she wants,” Thelma offered.
“Can I have a copy for my Insta?” Kelsey asked.
I wanted one too. Something happy and beautiful to commemorate some of the most intense hours of my life.
“Group picture!” Brigit yelled.
While we rounded up in the middle of the room, Blue-Eyed Garrett said, “Wait.”
He strode out of the room through the door leading to the store. Two minutes later, he came back holding several teddy bears.
Again, the whole group burst out laughing. After each of us had a plush toy in hand, we flocked around Erica while Cathy handed her camera to Jake’s employee, who took several shots. Then, Jake and he did the same with everyone’s cellphones.
“The hotel bus is here,” Ron announced.
The mountain man was back behind the camera. “Now, ladies, show me the badasses who scared the bear away.”
We all raised our arms high and growled the same way we had before collapsing into fits of giggles.
Louise raked her fingers through her hair. “I don’t know about you, but I need a shower and a change of clothes. Why don’t we all meet here later for drinks?” She smiled at Blue-Eyed Garrett. “You can come, too.”
We agreed to meet at five, and after I’d exchanged hugs with the group, Jake took me back to his house.
****
Jake
The rain had started again. After cranking up the temperature in the truck, I glanced at Sienna. She was gazing out the window with her hands clasped around the teddy bear in her lap.
“How are you feeling, baby?”
“I’m okay.”
Fuck. She wasn’t. My knuckles strained around the wheel. “Are you warm enough?”
She nodded.
Twenty minutes later, we were in the house. After handing me the bear, she bent down to remove her muddy shoes.
“Leave them here. I’ll take care of them.”
“Thank you,” she said with a ghost of a smile.
When I cupped her cheek, she held my wrist. “I’m okay. I just need a shower. I don’t... I know we were supposed to go to Crested Butte, but I—”
“Do you want me to run you a bath?” At the shake of her head, I pecked her nose. “I’ll take care of lunch.”
“All right. Thank you.”
While she walked slowly to her bedroom, I headed toward the kitchen, keeping my eyes on her closed door. Once the food was ready, I texted Erica. The group was back at the hotel. I peeked at the bedroom door. Was she crying in the shower?
Her door opened. She’d changed into a light sweater and pajama style matching pants. What was happening behind those beautiful eyes?
“Sit down, baby. Lunch is ready.”
After she’d folded herself in the nook of the couch with her legs curled under her, I brought our plates out and placed them on the coffee table. She didn’t move. Didn’t even blink. That fucking bear.
When I sat close, she shifted to face me. “There was a bear.” Her chin quivered. “It was my biggest fear and my worst nightmare.”
I cupped her cheek, and when she leaned into my hand with her eyes closed, the gesture ripped my chest open. Then her fingers caught my wrist to lower my hand.
She dipped her chin and slanted back. “You’re too close.”
Tension gripped my shoulders, but I leaned back. The deep breath she took made me clench my jaw.
Her beautiful gaze lifted. “I was thinking about the day we met.”
Don’t go back there, baby. “That was a long time ago.”
“I saw a bear today, and while I was running... while we were running, I kept thinking...” she let out a breath and shut her eyes briefly.
“What?”
“About you and me,” she said quietly.
“Sienna—”
Her fingers touched my mouth before she slid her palm to rest it on my chest. “Such a strong heart.”
Not without her. Fuck being too close. I grabbed her and sat her astride my lap. “Baby—”
Again, she put her soft hand on my face, and her darkened gaze locked onto mine. “I thought meeting a bear was my worst fear.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t. My worst fear is the idea of never seeing you again.”
Drowning in her eyes, my throat got tight, and my chest expanded. “I’m right here, baby.”
Her other hand curved around my jaw, and she touched her head to mine.
“Yes, you are,” she breathed out.
My control snapped. I clamped my hand around her nape and took her mouth.
****
Sienna
Jake’s groan rolled down my throat. The next second, my back sunk into the sofa. I’d missed his weight on me for what seemed like a lifetime. I tautened my grip on his hair and locked my legs around his lower back, pressing my sex against his.
I yanked my mouth from the heat of our kiss to catch my breath.
Jake licked and sucked the side of my throat in hungry kisses.
His big hand pulled on my top, and I arched into his touch.
When his warm mouth closed around my nipple, the strong draws zinged straight to my clit, flooding heat under my skin.
“Jake...”
His hand slid in my panties. Two of his fingers went in, and I moaned long and loud. He stroked while his thumb rolled over my clit. He nipped my nipple, and I soared into the fireworks of my orgasm.
Then, we were up, and I clamped my shaking limbs around his moving body.
Panting, I fastened my teeth on the crook of his neck, and his deep grunt reverberated against my whole body.
Then, we were naked. The coolness of the sheet on my back made me shiver before I was once again engulfed in Jake’s warmth.
After another scorching kiss, his scalding gaze drilled into mine while my arms curled around his neck.
His hard, heavy penis rocked along my sex. “Been too long, kitten. First time’s going to be fast.”
I raised my knees higher to his sides. He penetrated me slowly. God. So good. When he was lodged deep, he slanted his head, and his tongue plunged into my waiting mouth.
Then, he lunged. Once. Twice. And again. Two. Three more. My second orgasm burst, and I clutched my legs around him in a tight vise. I mashed my body into his until I couldn’t tell us apart.
“Give me one more, baby,” he rasped in my ear.
I didn’t think I could. “Jake...”
He intertwined his fingers to mine and pinned our hands in the pillow above my head. His hips grinded into mine in a way that made my whole-body clench, and I whimpered.
Tethering me to his gaze, he growled, “Come again, kitten.”
“Yes... yes,” I gasped.
My climax was so violent, I screamed his name.
“Sienna.” He planted himself inside me and roared against my neck.
As the quakes of my body lessened, Jake slid his nose along my jaw line while the glides of his still hard sex slowed down. After a drugging kiss, he pushed on his forearms, and I opened my eyes on his gaze full of... I wasn’t sure, but it melted me further under him.
He pecked my nose. “You’re hungry?”
I was, so I giggled. “Starving.”
Again, he scrutinized my face, sending my heart in a renewed frenzy.
“What?”
Grazing his fingertips on my temples, he crooned, “You’re a fucking miracle.”
My heart twinged in a really good way, but I didn’t know what to say. Jake grinned and brushed his lips on mine. “I’ll clean you up, then I’ll feed you.” His bass voice deepened. “Then, nap.”