Bourbon Street Royalty: Jaded Series, Book Two (10 page)

Soft moans grew into carnal cries. The circling intensified, determined to make her come in his mouth. Her body began to quiver. Her hands fumbled until she found his head, grabbing a handful of thick hair. Her hips moved with the rhythm of his tongue until the orgasm put her over the edge. He finished her off, licking her sensitive flesh, sending jolts pulsing through her fatigued body.

He stood and found her lips, kissing her hard, causing her to groan into his mouth.

He pulled away and swooped her up into his arms. Heading to the bedroom, he peered down into her flush face. “Don’t fall asleep on me, now, darlin’. We’re just getting started.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Baby Jade

Tugging the sheet over her head, Baby tried to shroud herself from the early morning sun. She stretched, tangling her long legs around Lucky’s. Sated and relaxed, she rested her head on his inked chest, trailing her index finger along the lines of his many tattoos.

She was immediately drawn to the tiny heart that had been stitched over his own years ago. It was a special piece; in honor of the baby his ex-girlfriend had aborted.

Her own heart stopped when she spotted his newest addition. Next to the red heart was a blue one, a baby blue heart balloon with a string interlaced around the red one. The words “a place where there is no darkness” had been inked in tiny script around the edges, encasing both hearts together.

Her chest tightened. It was the first time since the accident that she had allowed herself to think of his pain rather than her own. Lucky had experienced so much loss.

His body began to stir. She hopped out of bed and grabbed a t-shirt while wiping the stray tears from her cheeks. Her insides knotted. She didn’t know what to expect. The two of them weren’t exactly on the best of terms.

“Morning.”

Lucky yawned and stretched his arms above his head. Baby Jade couldn’t get a read on him. He squinted and shielded his face from the light. “My head hurts like a son of a bitch.”

“I’ll grab some Tylenol. Coffee?”

“Hell yeah,” he muttered and stumbled, naked, to the bathroom.

Baby drew in a deep breath. The man was sexy as hell.

Piling her hair up on her head, she made her way to the kitchen. She started the coffee pot, popped the top on the Tylenol bottle, and placed two on the counter before pulling out a third. It was probably needed after the way Lucky was pounding back that bottle of Jim Beam.

She decided to pop a couple herself. Every inch of her body throbbed from the intense night before. Thinking about the way Lucky had flipped her over and pulled her up onto all fours made the sensitive flesh between her aching legs pulsate.

She squeezed her eyes and pictured his lips on her hot skin.

“Damn, I feel like ass.”

Baby jumped at the sound of Lucky’s groggy voice. Being caught in the intimate moment made heat flush across her cheeks. She handed him a mug of hot, black coffee and he promptly choked back the pills. She sipped on her own cup and watched him. Even with a raging hangover, the man was a god. Everything about him made her body spring to life, but she couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room.

Her stomach fluttered. “Last night shouldn’t have happened.”

His chocolate colored eyes bore a hole through her, sending the blood thumping through her body. He took a sip and smoothed his hand over his beard, one of his telltale habits. He was choosing his words carefully.

The silence was agonizing.

“Let me rephrase,” she said. “Last night shouldn’t have happened
like it did
. We haven’t seen each other in months, other than the strange altercation at the hospital. You show up out of the blue, and we end up fucking like two horny teenagers.”

Lucky leaned against the counter and crossed his legs at the ankle. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his worn out jeans. “I know you’re right, but I’m not sorry it happened. You could have told me to leave.”

“Seriously? You were stone ass drunk. What was I going to do? Send you off on a motorcycle? To have another fucking accident?” Her voice escalated as her emotions spiraled out of control.

He lowered his head. “I can’t do this right now. Not today.”

“So you were just here to get laid? No talking?”

“Dammit Baby, you know it’s not like that.” Lucky’s face twisted. His full lips downturned and his heavy eyes were glassy. Deep pain etched in the lines and creases.

She knew she was being difficult, but she couldn’t will herself to stop. He had hit a nerve, and she couldn’t shake it off. “Do I?”

Lucky’s voice softened. “You should. You know how I feel about you. I gave up everything for you.”

Baby scoffed, swallowing hard to get her coffee down. “What the hell did you give up for me?” Her body trembled as rage bubbled in her gut. “One day, I wake up in the hospital, broken and bruised, and find out I lost my baby. The next day, you’re gone, not to be heard from again. I’d lost everything. I wanted to die! Do you know what that was like?”

Lucky closed the gap between them. His eyes blazing with fire and pain. “He wasn’t just your baby! He was my son, and I lost him too! Why the hell does everyone seem to forget that?” He stared at her for a second before backing away. “I’ve got to go. I need to check on my mother.”

Baby threw her hands up. Cocking her head to one side, she followed him through the living room. “You’re running away again? You’re just going to leave me here, like this, again?”

He stopped and turned to face her. “Baby, I didn’t leave you because I wanted to. I would never have left you voluntarily.”

With hot tears stinging her eyes, she lowered her head. “Then I don’t understand. Why?”

Lucky tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. “I think we need to talk about this after we calm down. We’re both upset, and I really do have to get to the hospital.”

She nodded and blinked, attempting to suppress the tears from spilling.

Lucky slipped on his boots and ran his hands through his hair. He placed his hand on the doorknob, but never turned.

“Last night was not a mistake. You could never be a mistake,” he said before vanishing.

Dazed, Baby collapsed onto the couch. The sobs welling up in her throat boiled to the surface. She buried herself in a pillow and opened the floodgates, allowing the tears to flow.

***

Baby Jade slapped her hands against the desktop. “What the hell?” She was arguing with the duty nurse, trying to figure out what happened to Lolli. “Gone? Was she released?”

The poor woman behind the nurses’ station shook her head. “No, she left against doctor’s orders. Like I said ma’am, that’s all I know.”

“That’s all anyone seems to know!” She had already spoken with three different nurses, none of which had any idea what or whom she was talking about, and the doctor on call was busy with another patient.

“I’m really sorry,” the nurse offered.

Baby sighed, expelling a puff of air. What a fucked up day, and now the night wasn’t looking any better. “It’s not your fault; I’m just worried. Sorry for being so rude. Thanks for your help.”

She paced the hallway outside the elevator. As the heavy metal doors opened, she hardly noticed Drew exit the packed space as people flooded the hall.

“Hey,” he said and gently clasped her arm, pulling her from her trance.

She snatched away and drew back until she saw his puzzled look. “Shit, sorry.” She sighed and ran her hands up and down her thighs.

“Damn, are you ok? What’s going on?” He leaned in, making eye contact.

“It’s Lolli. She’s gone. They said she just up and left, didn’t see anyone or anything.” Baby’s knees were weak. Slade was close by. She felt it in her bones.

Drew placed his hands on her shoulders. “Honey, you’re shaking. Let’s get you out of here.” He pushed the elevator button.

“Miss! Miss!”

Baby looked beyond his shoulder. She recognized the woman hollering her name as one of Lolli’s night nurses. “Hold on a second,” she said.

“I’m glad I caught you. I have something for you,” the nurse panted.

Her brow flexed, confused. “For me? Are you sure?”

The woman dug into her pocket, pulling out an envelope. “Yes, the man specifically said to make sure I gave it to you, and only you.”

“A man? Was he with Lolli?”

The nurse shook her head. “No, this was after I found her room empty.”

“What did the man look like? Tall, white guy with muscles? Ponytail?”

“Actually, just the opposite. He was a black man. I think he was younger, and really thin. Thinking about it, he actually looked pretty scared, but I never saw him with the girl.” She handed the sealed envelope to Baby and touched her hand. “You take care of yourself, ok? I don’t want to see you lying in one of these beds.” She locked her expectant eyes on Baby, who responded with a slow nod, before marching back to the nurses’ station.

Baby plucked the seal on the back of the envelope and pulled out a slip of paper.

“
Wanna play? You know you’re my favorite toy.
”

“Everything ok?” Drew asked.

Vomit sloshed in her stomach before boiling in her throat. She had gone through hell and back with Slade. He wasn’t exactly known for failing, or being gentle in getting his way.

“Baby, do you need to sit down? You’re white as a fucking ghost.” He guided her backward, bracing her limp body against the wall.

She closed her eyes and struggled to pull in air. Her head was fuzzy, her lips tingling. After a few breaths, Baby shoved the paper into her bag and snapped her focus back to Drew.

“Um, yeah, I’m ok. Just some bad news is all. Can you give me a lift home?”

“Of course.”

Drew walked Baby Jade up to her door. She could smell the strong, scent of sage and patchouli coming from Ma’Linn’s, and knew that she was burning incense for a ritual. If Drew noticed, he didn’t say anything.

“Are you sure you’re ok? I don’t want to leave you like this.” He lightly placed his hand on her hip.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just some things to take care of. No worries.” Her voice broke as she attempted to sound unphased. “Hey, thanks for everything. It looks like there’s no need to go back to the hospital, so I guess I’ll see you around the club, huh?”

She didn’t like the way he stared at her, with his eyes full of desire. He never had a shot in hell, but that didn’t mean she wanted to hurt him.

“I was hoping we could see each other outside of the club sometime. You know, when you didn’t have so much going on.”

And there it was.

She dropped her head and shifted her feet. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

“Why? Is it the dude from the hospital? I could tell there was something there, but I was hoping it was all history.”

Baby gave an uncomfortable chuckle. “You could say that. I’m just not looking to get into something new right now. Things are just too insane; I hope you understand.”

Drew held her hands in his, running his fingers over her skin. She felt nothing for him. She didn’t know if she could ever cut Lucky loose, or if she even wanted to, but Drew wasn’t the answer.

“Have you ever heard that old saying, it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission?” he asked.

She eyed him, trying to make sense of his question when Drew snaked one arm around her waist and the other hand behind her neck, pulling her to him. His mouth clamping down onto hers. His lips were warm. He used his tongue to part her lips, swiping it across the inside of her mouth. Baby didn’t pull away, but her stiff response must have served as a clue.

This dismal expression in his eyes cut her to the core.

“Yeah, um,” Drew backed away. “I’m gonna go.”

“Don’t be upset. I just can’t right now. I’m sorry.” Baby felt as if she had been sucker punched. From what she could tell, Drew was a good guy. He deserved better.

He reached up and skimmed her face with his fingertips. “Don’t be sorry. I just hate to be benched so early in the game. If you need anything, you call me, ok?”

Baby nodded.

She watched Drew sulk back to his car and drive away.

“Hello, Ma’Linn.”

“How yo be knowin’ I be lis’ning?” The old woman’s deep voice came from the neighboring kitchen window.

Baby peered through the screen. “If your window’s open, you’re listening.”

The hearty chuckle made Baby Jade smile.

“So, tis true?” Ma’Linn asked with her plump chin propped up with both hands.

The smell of herbs lingered on Baby’s tongue. For the first time in a long time, her tummy growled. “Is what true?”

Ma’Linn raised her eyebrows. “Girl, don’tch yo be playn’ wit me. Yo know ‘zactly what I’s talkin’ ‘bout. Your man be back?”

Baby knew the question was coming, but it still took her by surprise. She didn’t have an answer, not one that made sense. “He’s back in town, but not my man.”

“Pfft. Babe girl, yo jus’ keep tellin’ yo’self dat.”