Inferno Anthology (299 page)

“You worry about keeping her safe, here. I’ll do my best to get things into the proper hands out there. But whatever you do, don’t go outside or stand in the windows or anything like that. Your faces have been plastered everywhere.”

A wry chuckled escaped me. “Yeah, I’m being painted as the criminal of the century right now, and Scott’s the heroic dad who tried to save his daughter. People hate me and the sympathy factor has just gone through the roof for the ‘poor’ mayor.”

Dee Dee rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to hand it to Rhonda. She’s good at her job.”

“I used to think Brooklyn was exaggerating her skills. I see, now, I was wrong. She wasn’t.”

“Don’t worry. We’re going to get this all taken care of. Trust me. When it’s all finished, you’re going to be the hero of the century and Scott will be the criminal.” She pointed to several bags. “Those are some clothes for the two of you. They aren’t fancy, mostly gym shorts and t-shirts for you, and leggings and t-shirts for Brooklyn. I didn’t know exact sizes, but I wanted you both to be comfortable.”

“No worries. Those sound perfect. The only fine dining the two of us will be doing is in this kitchen. There’s no reason for us to be dressing up. Thanks for the food.”

“That bag over there has ibuprofen and Tylenol, plus shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant. There’s also some disposable razors. I hope I got everything you might need.”

“I’m sure it’s all fine. I’ll be sure to reimburse you for all of this.”

“I won’t even consider it. I’m glad to help.” She wagged her finger in my face. “Call me if you need anything. I don’t care if it’s for a bucket of ice. The two of you can’t be seen leaving this room for any reason. I’ll come and get your laundry for you, if needed, too. Hopefully you won’t be here that long.”

“What about maid service? Do they do that here?”

“I told them I’d be in and out at odd hours and to please not disturb the room. I also told them I’d pick up fresh towels, as needed. Hopefully they won’t bother you.”

“Sounds good.”

“I better get going and let you get some rest. Is there anything else you need?”

I shook my head. “Not that I can think of at the moment. I think you’ve covered things pretty well.” Standing, I bent to give her a hug. “Thank you, for everything.”

“Thank you for being friends with my boy and for taking care of Brooklyn. You have a good heart. Hang in there. We’re going to make it through this. I promise.”

Six lay sleeping beside me as I watched the news, listening to the updates on the manhunt. Dozens of anchors on different channels were talking about how horrible he was and what a vile past he’d had. He was the one being painted as the monster, a brutal abuser who should be considered armed and dangerous. Everyone said he was bad, dangerous, and not a good fit for any respectable girl. It was laughable.

Yes, he was tough. Yes, he lived a rougher life than I had. Yes, one of the jobs he had was of a sexual nature. Yes, he was a self-admitted party animal. All that was true. But, for some reason, I couldn’t seem to resist him. To me, he was perfect…in all his wicked glory.

Staring at him, I saw nothing but a wonderful, loving man—a person who had willingly turned his life completely upside down to help keep someone else safe. He was only guilty of being wickedly sexy, as far as I was concerned.

I briefly wondered what those who knew him were thinking after seeing all these stories on the news about him. Did they believe he was the vile person he was being painted to be? Or did they think there was no way this could be correct and the media had to have things wildly screwed up?

So far, I’d seen no one speaking out in his behalf—not his uncle, not Brandon, not Bailey—no one. It made me wonder if they’d been warned to keep silent. Had my dad gotten to them? Where they okay? Knowing what I did about him now, there was no way I’d put it past him not to go after the others.

Six shifted beside me, groaning slightly as he rolled over from his side onto his stomach.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” I teased, as he opened one eye squinting at me briefly before shutting it, again.

A smile flitted over his mouth. “Mmm. I must still be dreaming. There’s a goddess in my bed.”

“Oh wow. I’ve graduated from a queen to a goddess—and all while I have bed-head and bruises, even. If you keep complimenting me this way, where are you going to go from here?”

“Hey, now. You can’t quiz me like this when I first wake up. You’re going to hurt my brain.”

I laughed, moving so I could place a peck against his cheek.

“Come here,” he said, opening his arms so I could lie inside them. Wrapping them around me, he hugged me tightly before suddenly releasing me. “Shit, I’m sorry. I forgot how sore you are.”

“Don’t be sorry. Hugs are healing, didn’t you know?” Slipping my arm around his waist, I hugged him back. “I love cuddling with you.”

“I like that, too. How’re you feeling?”

“Still on the stiff and sore side, but I think if I get up and stretch, it may help to get these muscles loosened up.”

“Come on,” he said, nudging me. “Let’s give you some pain pills and get you in a warm shower. I’ll even wash your hair for you.”

“I already took some about a half hour ago. Thank you for leaving them on the nightstand with a glass of water for me. I didn’t even hear Dee Dee come last night.”

“It was after midnight and I figured you needed your rest more than anything. I put those there just in case you woke up hurting. She also brought you some clothes. They’re in the bags on the dresser over there.”

“Awesome.” I followed him into the bathroom, my stomach growling, and I suddenly realized I’d gone all day yesterday without food. “What’s on the menu for breakfast?”

Turning on the water, he tested it before moving to the toilet to relieve himself. I couldn’t help smiling. I’d never had a guy take care of his needs in front of me, before. It seemed so…normal, somehow. Like we were just an average couple going about our daily routine.

Undressing, I climbed into the shower, sighing at how good it felt.

“Depends on what you’re in the mood for. She brought a couple boxes of cold cereal, but there’s eggs and sausage, too, if you want something hot.”

“Definitely the eggs and sausage,” I replied. “I’ll cook it as soon as we’re done showering.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Six replied, climbing in behind me and sliding his arms around my waist. “You’re going to rest and let me take care of you.”

Turning in his arms, I faced him. “Six, I’m not an invalid. Nothing is broken. I’m just bruised here and there.”

“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” Lightly, he placed his palm on the side of my face. “Your cheek is purple.” Trailing his fingers to my neck he paused and I thought I could feel him tremble. “I can see his fingerprint marks on your neck.” Moving lower, he touched my stomach. “And this bruise here is huge where he kicked you.” Encircling my arms, he lifted them. “This one wrist looks like you were chained to something, and your palms are bruised and your knuckles split open on both.”

“The palms and knuckles are my fault, from banging on the door,” I reminded him.

“Banging on a door he locked you behind.” He released my hands. “Don’t you get it? I look at you and I’m constantly reminded of how I failed you. If I’d gotten up off the floor and gotten dressed quicker at Bailey’s, maybe I could’ve prevented all this from happening. This is my fault—just as much as it is his. So you’re going to rest and let me take care of you.”

“
You
were injured, too. I didn’t expect you to come running after me at all.”

His eyes locked with mine, searching them and he stepped even closer. “I will always come running after you, sweetheart.” Sliding his hands to the sides of my face, he lightly kissed my lips before looking at me, again. “Marry me, Brooklyn.”

“Wha…what?” I asked, completely caught off guard and my heart started fluttering in my chest.

“Marry me. I know we have to wait until you’re eighteen; and I know you have dreams of your own and things you want to do with your life, but I swear I’ll support you in whatever you want to do. Just say you’ll marry me. We can wait for as long as you want, I just need to know I’ll get to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“You’re serious.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. The sincerity shone from his eyes.

“I am. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. You make me feel things I never thought possible. And this whole experience…well, it just highlighted all that for me, even stronger. Seeing you dragged away from me—I can’t do that. I need you in my life. Whatever it takes for me to get you, I’ll gladly do it. I’ll give you anything you want. Just say yes.”

“I don’t need or want anything else, but you. That’s more than enough.” Tears gathered in my eyes and I smiled.

A grin broke out across his face. “That sounded like a yes. Was that a yes?”

Laughing, I slid my arms around his neck. “Yes, that was a yes.”

“Hell yeah!” he shouted loudly, kissing me again, our teeth banging against each other because neither of us could stop smiling.

“I have to say this proposal story is going to be a little embarrassing to tell. ‘Mom? How’d Daddy propose to you? Well, honey, we were standing naked in the shower….’”

Six laughed heartily. “I swear I love you even more, just hearing you talk about our kids.”

“Kids?” I asked. “Plural? How many kids do you want?”

“I’ll take a dozen if they all look like their momma.” He kissed me again, deeper this time, turning and pressing me against the shower wall. “Or we can have a couple and just practice a lot.”

“Oh, I like the sound of that,” I breathed out, my body quickly responding to him.

“You know what they say, practice makes perfect.” He grinned.

“I already think sex with you is pretty perfect.”

Groaning, he leaned his forehead against mine. “Sweetheart, you can’t say things like that to me right now. Not while you’re hurt and I can’t do anything with you.”

“Trey Jagger!” I said, calling him by his real name. “I swear, if you just proposed to me and you don’t do anything,
I
might end up beating
you
.”

Chuckling, his eyes sparkled as he stared into mine. “Did you just threaten me?”

“I did. Now get to it,” I ordered with a smile.

“Are you sure you’re up for it? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Six, please,” I practically begged, reaching down, I wrapped my fingers around his engorged shaft and stroked him. Groaning, he closed his eyes and rocked his hips forward.

“Damn that feels amazing, sweetheart.”

“As long as you’re good, I’m good. I need you.”

“I’m good,” he replied gruffly, surprising me when he reached for the bottle of shampoo. “But we’re going to take this slow this time. I want to enjoy every inch of your body at a nice leisurely pace. We always have to rush to catch fast, frantic moments together. Now I have you all to myself and I want to go slow. Really slow.”

Pouring a generous amount of shampoo into his palm, he set the bottle down and rubbed his hands together lightly, before placing them in my hair. Closing my eyes, I moaned as he rubbed and kneaded my scalp, the fruity aroma filling the steamy shower.

“That feels wonderful,” I said, feeling like I was being extremely pampered.

“I agree, but you might want to ease off a little,” he said, his voice tight. “If you keep that up I’m not going to last very long.”

Glancing down, I laughed, not realizing I was gripping him even tighter. I’d been so lost in the shampooing. “Sorry,” I said, releasing him, but still lightly running my fingertips over it. “I’m kind of fascinated with this particular body part of yours, though. It’s fun to play with.”

His soapy hands dropped to my breasts, lathering and pinching them. “And I like to play with these,” he replied with a chuckle. “And just for the record, feel free to fondle me at any time. I mean that.”

“Better watch it, or you’re going to turn me into Bailey. I won’t care who’s around, I’ll just jump you in front of everyone.”

Smiling widely, he shook his head. “Sweetheart, I dream of you doing that. It’s damn hot.”

“You think so?” I asked watching him carefully. “Crowds of people wouldn’t embarrass you?”

“Did you forget I’m an exotic dancer? Or I was at least—if I haven’t been fired by now.”

I frowned. “I hope you haven’t lost your job.”

“Shh.” Leaning forward he placed a kiss against my lips. “I don’t want to talk about all that, right now. I want us to stay right here in this perfect little bubble we’re in.”

Loving the feel of his hands on my body, slowing washing and kneading at the same time, I bent and grabbed the shampoo bottle, pouring some in my hand. Reaching up, I began washing his thick dark hair, sinking my fingers into the silky depths. “I love your hair, by the way. It’s sexy.”

He laughed loudly, the sound echoing off the walls of the shower around us. “I’m pretty sure that’s the first time anyone has called my hair sexy.”

“Well, it’s true, and I’m glad I could be your first something.”

The smile slid from his face, and he stared at me seriously. “What do you mean?”

“Sorry, that came out sounding different than I meant it to.”

“Tell me what you do mean.”

“I don’t mean it badly, just that sometimes I feel sad I couldn’t have had some of your firsts. You had sex before me. You loved someone else before you loved me. You made a baby with someone else before me.” Eyes locked on mine, he didn’t look away from me. “Sometimes I have this tiny bit of doubt in my head that nothing you get to do with me will be as exciting for you as it is for me—that it’ll seem boring.”

“I’m going to marry you. I’ve never done that before. And you and I will have babies of our own together. I’ve never had a baby before…getting someone pregnant isn’t the same thing as actually having and holding a baby. I only want to do those things with you. No one else.” Positioning me under the spray of water, he began rinsing out my hair. “I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you; and you make me feel loved and cherished. I love seeing the innocence of everything in your eyes—no head games, no playing hard to get. The honesty I get from you is priceless. It’s allowed me to trust you, and trust is a huge thing for me. You know that.”