Crash Into Me (20 page)

"Tristan..."

"Shhh.
Don't talk. I want you to lay down while we wait for the doctor."

I
rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes again. Just knowing he
was taking care of everything put me at ease, and I couldn't imagine feeling
safer than in his arms. He placed me gently into our bed and sat beside me,
still wearing a look of worry.

"I'll
be right back. I need to deal with Jenson," he said sternly.

Reaching
out, I grabbed his shirt sleeve as he stood. "Jenson didn't do anything
wrong. Please don't do anything to him. If it wasn't for him, I don't know what
would have happened to me or Jordan."

Tristan
studied me for a moment and then nodded his head. "He's supposed to make
sure this doesn't happen, Nina."

"Please.
He's not to blame. It all happened so fast. He got to me as soon as he
could," I pleaded.

He
leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips. "I'll send Jordan in until I get back."

Chapter Nineteen

Jordan sat with me and tried to make me feel better as Tristan reprimanded the driver right
outside the door. I couldn't hear everything he said, but as Jordan raved about how beautifully the house was decorated, I heard Tristan say, "I want him
taken care of. Now. Do I make myself clear?"

I
truly hoped he wasn't talking to Rogers about firing Jenson. It wasn't his
fault Mrs. Phillps' crazy grandson was some kind of addict and probably stole
my bag for money to buy his drugs. I tuned out much of what Jordan said as I strained to hear more of what Tristan was saying, but his voice was so low I
couldn't make anything more out.

When
he returned, his expression was softer and he smiled when his gaze met mine. As
he sat down next to me, he squeezed my hand. "How are you feeling? The
doctor should be here any minute."

"How
did you get here before us?" I asked, realizing he couldn't have left the
city before Jenson left Sunset Park.

"I
drive faster than Jenson," he said with a laugh. "Remember how fast
my car is?"

"Yeah."
The memory of that first night and us racing up the highway toward this house
flashed through my mind, and then I heard Jordan speak.

"I
think I need to go home, Nina. You look like you're in good hands here."

All
I could think about was her going back to where that asshole was. Who knew what
might happen if he caught her alone? I looked over at Tristan and squeezed his
hand. "Jordan can't go back there. That guy might be there, Tristan."

"Honey,
I have work. I have to go back to the city," Jordan protested.

I
silently pleaded with Tristan, hoping he understood the look in my eyes. When
he spoke, I fell in love with him all over again.

"Jordan,
Nina's right. You can spend a week or two at my hotel downtown while my people
find the man who did this."

"Are
you sure? That's really nice of you."

I
brought Tristan's hand to my mouth and kissed it, mouthing "Thank
you."

He
looked deep into my eyes as he said to Jordan, "It's my pleasure. I think
you'll enjoy one of the suites, and the menu for room service is second to
none." Breaking his stare, he turned to face her. "I'll be sure to
check in on you to make sure you're comfortable. Jenson will escort you back to
Brooklyn and wait until you get your things."

Jordan leaned over the bed and hugged me tightly against her. In my ear, she whispered,
"Feel better, sweetie. And if you let this man get away, I'll never let
you live it down."

Rogers appeared as he always did, just at the right time, and took Jordan to the car. Alone again with Tristan, I pulled on his tie to bring his mouth to
mine. Never before had I wanted to show someone how much I loved them as I
wanted to at that moment. He kissed me like he'd missed me for ages, covering
my mouth seductively as he caressed the inside of my mouth with his tongue. The
feeling was sensual and caring at the same time.

I
pulled away and ran my hand over his cheek. "Thank you for what you did
for Jordan. I can't tell you how much it means to me."

"I
would do anything to make you happy, Nina. I'll find the man who did this and
he'll understand what happens when he hurts someone I love."

Something
in his eyes told me Mrs. Phillips' grandson was in danger, but before I could
ask him what he planned to do about him, Rogers knocked on the bedroom door to
announce the doctor had arrived.

"Good.
Show him in, Rogers," Tristan said in the butler's direction.

The
doctor examined me and pronounced me healthy, other than a tennis ball size
goose egg on the back of my head. He assured me there wouldn't be any permanent
damage and that I'd be fine. It took all of ten minutes for him to complete the
entire examination and prescribe a pain killer, and Tristan thanked him and led
him out to meet Rogers, returning to my side not a minute later.

He
looked at me oddly, and I realized I still wore my red dress and stockings. I
didn't know where my shoes were, though. "I wanted to surprise you for our
date. Do you like it?"

He
removed his black suit coat and tie and laid down next to me. Taking me in his
arms, he slid his hands up and down my leg, feeling the stockings. His touch
excited me as the pain killer began to dull my pain.

"I
do. Did you wear this just for me?" he asked in a voice heavy with sex.

I
ran my hand over his shirt and unbuttoned two buttons so I could touch his
skin. It felt cool against my fingers. Lowering my mouth to his neck, I licked
just below his earlobe. "I did. I thought it would be sexy."

Tristan
groaned and ran his hand further up my thigh to where the garter belt connected
to the stockings and then between my legs, where my sensitive skin lay bare.
"You went into the city like this?"

His
voice had a strange edge to it, and I lifted my head to see his expression had
changed from just a minute earlier. His eyes had narrowed into angry slits.

"It's
okay. I just went to see Jordan, and you know what happened after that. Nobody
else saw me." I didn't mention the guys across the street from the
apartment or that the wind had blown my dress so high it was likely that at
least a few of them had seen a bit more than I'd wanted to show.

He
slid his hand between my legs and stroked his fingers slowly over my tender
folds. "I don't want you leaving the house like this without me."

The
odd mix of gentleness in his touch and the harsh tone of his voice confused me.
"Okay. It's no big deal, though."

One
finger slid over my clit and sent a jolt of excitement through me. He stared
down at me as my face showed the effect of what his fingers were doing to me.
"It is a big deal. You're with me, Nina. No one else sees that part of
you."

The
possessiveness he was showing me was new between us. Until that moment, I'd
never gotten the sense that he was jealous or overprotective when it came to me.
There hadn't been a moment since I'd met him when he didn't act as if he were
the only man in my life. This change in him baffled me even while it excited
me. I liked the idea that he was protective about the woman he loved, although
I knew there was no reason for him to be jealous.

I
loved him so completely I couldn't imagine even thinking of another man
touching me the way he did. Looking up into his eyes so intense, I smiled.
"I don't want anyone else but you, Tristan."

He
drew circles with his fingertip over my excited clit and kissed me deeply
before he pulled away and I watched him slide down my body and settle in
between my legs. Lifting my dress around my waist, he lowered his head and
whispered against my skin, "No other man, Nina."

The
feel of his mouth and tongue on me was exquisite. He slid up and down my moist
folds, teasing me with the tip of his tongue when he reached my now swollen
clit. His fingers thrust inside me, pushing against the tender spot inside that
sent ribbons of pleasure racing through me.

His
mouth inched me toward my orgasm, taking me to the edge of oblivion just to
ease me back again each time as if he knew the very moment my body would give
in to his expert touch. Just as I felt the first tiny tug of my release, he
pulled away and stood up from the bed.

"Wha...What's
wrong?" I asked trying to catch my breath.

He
slowly unbuttoned his shirt and slid out of his pants and boxer briefs,
revealing his cock pressed against his belly. I wanted to feel him inside me
and held my hand out for his. He sat down next to me and without a word, pulled
me onto his lap. I straddled my legs over his hips as he held me above him by
the waist.

"Tristan,
don't make me wait," I pleaded as I pushed against his hold.

Pushing
the thick head of his cock through my wet pussy, he teased me to the point that
I could barely hold back, and then stopped, leaving me tense and needy. His
gaze fixed on me, watching my reaction, as if all this was a game.

"Don't
tease," I cooed as I tried to lean forward to kiss him, stopped abruptly
as he pushed me down on his legs. Confused, I attempted to feel some closeness
from him, but his hands held me tight in place away from him.

He
stared into my eyes until I couldn't stand it anymore. "What's wrong? Why
won't you even kiss me?"

"I
need to know you're mine, Nina. I've given you everything your heart desires,
including enough money to ensure you can have anything I may not have
considered. When I see something like this, I get concerned."

His
words stunned me. "Why are you saying things like this? I wore the
stockings and the garter belt for you—to go to dinner with you."

Tristan's
gaze never wavered, telling me he was serious. He thought I'd done something.
My mouth dropped open in amazement, and then a rush of defensiveness came over
me. "As if I'd be able to do anything with your man hovering over me
wherever I go. It's not like I'm ever alone, Tristan. You haven't trusted me
from the very beginning of us."

He
said nothing for so long I worried he might never speak to me again, but
finally, he said in a low, solemn voice, "Jenson is there to protect you.
Your safety means everything to me."

"Safety
from what? I lived in Brooklyn long before I met you. I can handle
myself."

And
with that, his part of the conversation was over. He placed me on the bed next
to him and left to walk to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Closing
me out.

Leaning
back onto the bed, I covered my head with a pillow, angrier than I'd been in
ages. I'd gotten all dressed up for him and then that fucked up asshole had
mugged me, and all Tristan could think of was that I must be sneaking around
behind his back? Hadn't I shown him every day and every night how much in love
with him I was?

When
he didn't come out after five minutes, something inside me snapped. I loved
him, but this jealous bullshit based on nothing wasn't going to work. If we
were going to stay together after my contract was up, he had to know that.

I
marched to the bathroom, threw open the door, and stormed in to find him in the
shower. I was all upset, and he was enjoying a nice shower at the end of the
day! I stood there staring through the glass shower doors watching him until I
became too impatient to wait any longer for him to notice me.

"So
that's what you think of me? That I would take your money and everything else
and go with someone else?"

He
didn't even turn to face me at the sound of my voice, but I wasn't ready to let
this go. Not yet. Opening the shower door, I walked in still fully dressed and
stood in front of him, my arms crossed as the water hit me. "What? Now
you're just going to ignore me? You basically accuse me of cheating on you and
now I don't get to answer those charges?"

"Don't,
Nina. I'm not in the mood for this with you."

I
poked my finger into his chest. "Then you shouldn't have started it."

He
looked down at me, those dark eyes barely hiding his anger, as the water rolled
down over the beautiful features of his face, making me want to reach out to
touch him. I extended my hand to caress his cheek, but he caught me by the
wrist and held my hand away from him. Stunned, I tried to pull away, but he
wouldn't allow that either.

"Nina,
be careful with what you do now."

Yanking
my arm from his grip, I snapped, "How about I do nothing with you
now?" I spun on the wet tile and moved to take a step, but his arm shot
out and wrapped around my waist before my foot could hit the floor. In a flash,
I was up against the wall with him staring wildly down at me.

The
man in front of me was different now—more powerful than I'd ever seen him. I
knew I should have been frightened, but he looked so sexy, so commanding that I
was more turned on than I thought I could be. His dark hair glistened with
moisture, and I slid my hand over his head to feel its silky wetness. My touch
made something break in him.

"Nina..."
he moaned deeply as he lifted me onto his hard cock, pushing into me with one
fast thrust.

I
wrapped my arms around his neck and laced my fingers tightly as he kissed me
hard, his mouth and tongue demanding mine respond with the same level of
urgency, nearly taking my breath away. His cock pounded into my body, hard and
fast like a piston as it stroked in and out of me, and he moaned and grunted
into my mouth the sounds of a man driven by need. Our bodies bounced and
slammed against the marble tile—my back, his legs—each in turn smashing against
the hard surface, but neither of us cared.

It
was like all the frustration he'd endured in the past weeks exploded out of him
and now he sought someone to share his pain. I knew he may never tell me what
had been on his mind, but as we clung to one another's wet bodies and raced
toward our release, I felt him reach out for me like he never had before.

Our
sex was primal in a way that both thrilled and frightened me, but at that
moment as he filled me and my body reacted as only he could make it, I felt
closer to him than any other soul on Earth. His hands left the back of my head
and skidded down the wet tiles behind me, making him sag against my body. I
held his head to my heart, listening as he panted softly against me and
murmured my name.

He
silently lowered me to the floor without saying another word. I stood looking
up at his face that now wore a tortured expression. He gently wiped the pad of
his thumb over my lips and leaned forward to press his forehead against mine.

"Tristan,
what's wrong?" I whispered.

"Nothing,"
he answered quietly and walked out of the shower. His tone told me that was his
only word on the subject, so I let it go, hoping that when he needed to tell
me, he would.