Into the Flames (Out of the Ashes #2) (14 page)

“You’re right.  It’s time to start moving forward and the best way to do that is to stand up to him.”  I huff out a laugh and my face quirks into a smile.  “You know the funny thing is that during all the training with Tyler I had this picture in my head about how seeing him would go.  Then when he was
actually in front of me it was all I could do to remember how to run away.” 

Ian wraps me in his arms.  “Lauren, I can’t pretend to know the fear that he causes you but I
think I understand.  Never think less of yourself because of him otherwise he wins.  You did everything perfectly.  I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know that in that situation you chose to run to me.”  He kisses me gently. 

Our moment is interrupted by a light rap on the door.  Dr. Somers looks none
too happy to see me again.  Trying to lighten the mood he says, “Ms. Carmichael, we have got to stop meeting like this.”  Ian’s arms tighten around me protectively.

“Ian, this is Dr. Somers.  He treated me when I was here last.”  Ian finally moves from my side, placing himself between me and the doctor before greeting him. 

“Dr. Somers.”  He extends his hand, “Ian Jacobs.  Good to meet you.”  Ian gives him a once over and then returns to my side.  “When can we expect the test results?”

“That is precisely why I’m here, Mr. Jacobs.  Could you give Lauren and I a moment?”

“Whatever you have to say to my fiancé you can say in front of me?”  His eyes darken.  I just shake my head; fiancé, oh Ian, what I am going to do with you?  Would be nice if you would ask and I would accept before you start throwing titles around, but now is not the time or the place.

“Dr. Somers, it’s fine.  Ian can stay.”  I place my hand on his arm to comfort him but it doesn’t seem to help.  What is
it with the pissing contest he’s having with the doctor?

Dr. Somers gives us both another once over then turns to the papers in his hands. 
“Ms. Carmichael, first I want to make it clear that all your tests came back fine.”

“Dr. Somers, why do I feel
there’s a but coming?”

“Because there is.  I’m concerned about the further head trauma.  You’ve only just recovered from the first incident and to have another so quickly…”  He trails off.  “The extra aggravation to the previous concussion is worrisome.  The brai
n appears to be fine now so I want to give you a quick examination and, providing everything is still satisfactory, the nurse will be in with your discharge instructions.  I want to be very clear about this.  These instructions are to be followed to the letter; no short cuts here and there.  Are we clear?”

“Yes,” I mutter feeling like a naughty
schoolgirl though I have no idea what I’ve done.

Dr. Somers looks over at Ian. 
“Would you mind sitting over there for a moment?”  Dr. Somers motions to a chair next to the bed.  Ian gives a disgusted look to the chair like the small separation will cause him actual pain and then looks back to the doctor with a smile.    He nods and slides down into the chair without releasing my hand.

Dr. Somers moves up to my side.  “I’m glad they caught him this time.”  His voice barely above a whisper as he runs his fingers lightly over my cheek where Dean struck me.  Then once again back to his professional self, “There will be some swelling and bruising in your cheek for the next week.  Nothing is broken, thank God. 
With plenty of rest you should make a full recovery in say a month or so.  But that means no strenuous brain activity.  No reading, no watching TV, you will need to take some time off work.  Not the full month but at least two, preferably I would like to see three weeks and then you can go back on a part time basis only for one or two weeks before returning full time.  I don’t want any strain.”  His hand runs over the spot up into my hair checking the spot of the previous concussion.  “And before you start, yes I know it will be boring but your brain needs time to heal.  And if you want to make a full recovery this is what it will take.  That and all precautions possible to avoid further head trauma.”

I look to Ian and while I know he’s been listening intently to everything the doct
or has to say, his eyes haven’t left the doctor’s hands since he first touched my cheek. When Dr. Somers is finished speaking, Ian turns his full attention to him.  “Dr. Somers I appreciate everything you have done for my fiancé.”  Fuck, there’s that word again.  “I can assure you that she will be well taken care of.  The only question I have for you is when she will be able to travel.  I have plans to take us out of the country for Christmas.  We can postpone if necessary but I just need to know when it will be safe for her to fly.”

Dr. Somers looks between my perplexed expression and Ian’s determi
ned one.  This is the first I’ve heard of
our
travel plans.  This man is beyond exasperating right now.  As soon as Dr. Somers leaves, I’ll have to rein him in.  What has gotten into him today?

“Mr. Jacobs, I would say three weeks at minimum before any overseas flights.  So your plans for Christmas should be fine.  I will want to schedule a follow up for a few days before you leave just to clear Lauren but I see no reason, providing she follows my instructions, that you should delay your trip.”  With a nod and tight smile, Dr. Somers turns and leaves the room without another word.

I turn my glare on Ian full force.  “What the hell was all that about Ian?  I mean, I appreciate that you want to take care of me through all this but fiancé?  An impromptu trip that I know nothing about?  What’s going on?”

“Beautiful
, he needs to know you’re mine.  He looked like he was just waiting for you to jump into his arms.  I couldn’t stand it.  Knowing that he was here for you when I wasn’t and that you have this trust in him while your trust in me is broken, it’s killing me inside.  I know it’s my own fault but I just need to make sure we are in this together, forever.”

“Don’t
you think there is something that you need to ask me before you go around calling me your fiancé and don’t you think we need to talk about what we are feeling with each other rather than holding it and letting it out at inappropriate times.  God, Ian, I love you but you are confusing the hell out of me.”

“Lauren, you are my forever.  Never doubt that.  If you feel differently please tell me now.
  As for asking you first, you’re right and I have plans for that but that doesn’t change the fact that you are mine and I will protect what is mine from any threat be it real or perceived.  I won’t allow anything or anyone to hurt you ever again.  You are far too precious for that.”  He moves to my side and kisses me soundly leaving no doubt about his feelings for me.  I return his kiss with just as much force, murmuring I love you’s in between breaths. 

Once I’m released from the hospital things fly by in a
blur.  Gavin and Ian tried to convince me to move Thanksgiving to Marlene’s but I wouldn’t hear of it.  Just because my face isn’t the prettiest sight right now is no reason to stop our holiday.  Dean would only win if I did that.  Ian’s been great, hiring a housekeeper to help with apartment this week and Gavin made me leave all the shopping to him. All I had to do was make a list, a detailed list and 15 phone calls later we have our entire Thanksgiving feast just waiting for Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  The stress that I had over the holiday has disappeared and I’m glad for it.  I want to be able to enjoy this time with the people that I love.

My therapy session really helped put everything in perspective this week and it was great that Ian could be there with me.  Dr. Reeves is very pleased with my progress and had it not been for Dean’s sudden reappearance
I would be cutting back to twice per month on my sessions but as it is there are things that I need to discuss with Dr. Reeves and changing our meeting schedule isn’t something I want to do right now.  I let Ian know about this before we went in Tuesday evening so it surprised me once again when he brought up a trip that I knew nothing about.

“Dr. Reeves, thank you for everything that you’ve done for Lauren.  I’m glad she has been able to open up with you and I truly feel that she has been able to be more open with me because of it.  I talked with
her other doctor about clearing her for travel next month and wanted to check with you as well.  I know she doesn’t want to change her therapy schedule at this point but for several weeks in December and January I’m hoping we can make some accommodations.”

“Mr. Jacobs, I’
m completely supportive of some time away for Lauren and think it would be very beneficial for her.  As to her therapy schedule that is something the two of you will have to discuss.  I agree with keeping the twice weekly sessions until Lauren is more comfortable but we could always scale back for that time and meet via phone conference or Skype.  Just let me know what the two of you decide.”  He turns to me.  “Lauren, I understand that this latest episode has caused some back sliding for you but I want to stress to you that this isn’t your fault.  You have no control over Dean’s actions and behaviors; the only thing you can do is equip yourself to deal with them.  Please feel free to call me anytime and don’t just save everything up for our sessions. Sometimes you may need someone to talk to and that’s what I’m here for.”  He smiles over at the two of us and glances down as Ian takes my hand.  “I hope you two have a good evening and enjoy your holiday.  We’ll talk again next Tuesday.”

As we climb into the car, I glance over to Ian.  “Ian, what’s going on?”  He gives me a quizzical look before I continue.  “This is twice now that you have mentioned taking a trip soon but we haven’t talked about
it or made any plans.  I just… I want to know what’s going on.”

He turns in his seat so that his sapphire d
epths bore into mine.  “Lauren, I let him hurt you not once but twice and that will never happen again so long as I’m here.  I need you safe and I need you with me.  I want us to go to England for the Christmas and through the beginning of the New Year.  I have top notch security in place there.  We can work and enjoy each other in peace, away from all the craziness of Dean and Rebecca.”

“Ian, we can’t just run off at the holidays.  Gavin, your family they would never
understand if we didn’t spend the time with them.”

Ian’s lips quirk into that lazy half smile and his eyes gleam with
his secret.  “Sweetheart, I would never ask you to spend your first real Christmas with family away from them.  They’ll be joining us through New Year’s.”  His arms wrap around my body before his lips descend to meet mine.  “I know what our family means to you.”  My heart does flips in my chest at his words, our family.  Did I ever imagine I would be so lucky, so perfectly happy after everything that happened?  Never in a million years but there’s nothing I would trade this life, this man for, nothing. 

“So I guess you think you thought of everything then, Mr. Jacobs.”  I smirk at him.  “Did you think to ask me before you made all these plans?”  I’m completely joking but his face turns somber.

“Lauren, I have to keep you safe.  I will do anything and everything to make sure that happens.  There’s no need to discuss this because it’s what we’re doing.  I’m not above tying you up to get what I want.”  His lips say one thing but his eyes say another and temperature in car shoots up about 100 degrees.

“Oh, Ian,” I hungrily kiss his lips, “sometimes I’m torn between being mad at you and wanting to devour you.”

“Shit, sweetheart, you can’t say things like that.  There’s no way I could do everything I want to in this car.”

“Serves you right for being so bossy.  Well, I guess since you went to all the trouble to talk to everyone about coming along and since you are only trying to look
out for me I’ll come along without too much of a fight.  But we really need to discuss this whole tying up thing further.”  I kiss him again.

“Fuck
, you will be the death of me.”  He quickly throws the car into drive and speeds over to the apartment as fast as New York traffic will allow him to.  The drive is silent but permeated with need.  We both know what’s coming and the anticipation is becoming unbearable.  He whips into his spot in the underground garage and before I can even move for the door, he’s there opening it and grabbing my hand.  Damn, this man moves fast when he wants something.  I smile at the thought.  Took him 3 months, 3 torturous months, to tell me how he felt the first time.  So maybe he hasn’t always been this speedy.  The elevator ride is filled with quiet intensity.  He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even really look at me but he never lets go of my hand.  He continues to draw small circles over the top of it and the heat from his touch is wreaking havoc on my insides. 

I stare at the emergency stop button.  It takes all the will power I have not reach over and push it and have my way with him right here in this elev
ator.  Just as I’m about to lose my battle with my self-control the elevator dings indicating our arrival at the apartment.  Ian half-leads, half-drags me to the door, still moving at lightning speed.  I’m not even sure how he got the door open that fast.  “Bedroom now.”  Two words, two words and he has melting at his feet.  I want to strip down right here in the entry; I don’t want to wait the 30 seconds that it will take to walk back to our room, but I do.  I know Ian would be livid if Gavin walked in on us, not to mention how poor Gav would feel. 

W
ith strength I didn’t know I had, I push my feet toward the bedroom.  Making sure this is as torturous for him as it is for me, I run my hands over the sensuous sway of my hips as I walk and reach around to pull the zip of my skirt down. 

He is on me in an instant.  “Oh sweetheart, you do not want to tease me right now.  It has taken every ounce of my control not to take
you before now.  At that stop light, in the parking garage, in that elevator.  Don’t think I didn’t see what you were thinking either.  As soon as that door closed I wanted to rip every shred of fabric from your body and feast on you.  But I’m trying to be a gentleman, trying to be patient.  So don’t test my patience any further or Gavin will hear you screaming from this hallway because we won’t make it any further.”

“Ian…”  My voice is
low and lust fills every letter of his name.

“I warned you, sweetheart.”  He growls.  His lips crush mine.  Vaguely I registe
r the tilt of our bodies but I’m unwilling to leave his lips as he feasts on mine.  He scoops me up into his arms pressing my body to his firm chest.  He stalks the rest of the way down the hallway like a lion who has claimed his prey and is dragging it home to eat.  “I told you I was running out of control.”  His lips barely leave mine as he says it.

Again the only word I can manage is his name; it falls from my lips as a plea as he places me in the center of the bed.  His eyes roam my body as his hands begin to strip his clothing from his.  The suit jacket is the first thing to hit the floor.  His need is obvious in his disregard for his Armani suit.  The shirt joins the crumpled pile that is his suit jacket
.  My eyes rake over his perfectly formed pecs, down his chiseled abs.  I want to run my tongue over every crevice of his hard torso, to run my nails up and down his muscled back as I do.  I move to do just that but the look in his eyes and the shake of his head stops me in my tracks.  “No sweetheart, you are going to take this and you are going to love every minute of it.”  The mischievous glint is back in his eyes and they sparkle as he stares into mine all the while moving his fingers lower and lower until he reaches the waist of his pants.  He makes quick work of them along with his socks.  His boxer briefs cling to him doing nothing to hide his desire.  They are practically splitting at the seams as his cock strains to be released. 

I lick my suddenly dry lips as I stare at him.  So beautiful inside and out and all mine.  That one small action snaps the control he had regained; his briefs quickly join the pile on the floor and he’s on top of me.

“You’re killing me, sweetheart.  But it’s the best death I could ever have imagined.”  His lips lazily trace mine, his tongue running along the crevice until I open to him.  Our tongues dance together and the sensation of him on top of me, tongue in me sends a jolt of wetness straight to my core. 

I try to plead with him again, to make him stop making me wait but he is having none of it.  This is retribution for what he perceives as my torture of him earlier though none of it was inten
tional.  He sits back on his heels, taking his mouth from mine leaving me quivering with need.  “You, my sweet, sweet Lauren, have on entirely too much clothing.  However will we remedy this situation?”

I can’t stop my gaze from traveling down his body to his beautiful erection, proud and on display for me.  “See something you like, love?  See how I’m dying for you?  All I w
ant is to fill you up but you’re so greedy, so hurried to have me that you forgot you need to be naked for this too.”  He clicks his tongue at me in reprimand.  “Now I guess I’ll have to undress you myself, my greedy girl.”  His hands run up under my skirt searching for the tops of my stockings and the garter that he knows he will find.  His fingers skim softly over the lace tops and then play with the straps connecting the stockings to the garter belt.  “So fucking sexy.  You have no idea how sexy you are but I’m about to show you, sweetheart.”  His lips touch the tops of my thighs as he hikes up my skirt around my waist.  “I’ll show you that you’re sexy every day for the rest of your life.”  He growls low in the back of his throat as his eyes take in the antique lace thong I have worn just for him, just for this moment.

Desire clouds his eyes as he sets his gaze on my heaving chest.  If he would give me the chance, if I could gain enough control to make my voice work I would beg him.  I would plead, offer him anything to take me, to make me his
in the way only he can.  But I’m silenced by the force of his stare and my own inability to form coherent thoughts.

Finally he works my skirt down my legs and removes my heels, reverently placing a kiss on each stocking clad foot as he does so.  His hands run the length of my body causing m
e to shiver uncontrollably.  I’m nothing but a ball of need right now; I need him to satisfy this craving.  His fingers nimbly start with the top two buttons of my blouse then a smirk lifts his lips and his hands fist the material.  Screw panty ripping, which has nothing on this.  He rips the shirt from my body, buttons flying.  Somewhere in my mind, I silently curse, as that was my favorite blouse. Now it will just be a favorite memory.

My
breasts heave against the constraint of my lace bra cups threatening to spill over the top.  His thumbs slide up my waist almost as if he’s counting each of my ribs.  The slowness, the thoroughness of his touch is maddening.  I will surely go crazy if he doesn’t take me soon.  His thumbs find my stiff peaks through the lace and he teases them through the material.  The feeling is so erotic I worry that I will come in an instant if he doesn’t stop.  As he makes another circle over them I begin to wonder if I want him to stop.  I moan in pleasure.  No, I don’t care if I cream my panties, I don’t care about the embarrassment that surely follows an orgasm when he’s barely touched me.  My body needs the release it’s craving.

“Do you want to come, sweetheart?  Can I make you come just doing this?”  He pinches my nipples between his thumb and forefinger
twisting them around until they become even harder. 

“Fuck.”  I can’t stop the
expletive from leaving my lips.  His sweet torture of my body has me sitting right on the edge and I so badly want to jump over, I want his arms around me as I crash down.

“Now that’s no way for a lady to speak.  Better wash out that mouth.”  His lips are on mine again and his tongue pushes relentlessly into my mouth.  “Damn, you taste sweet.  Now to refresh my memory and see if the rest of you is that sweet.”

He lifts me slightly and removes my bra then his lips begin their descent.   Lightly he drops kisses to my neck and collar bone.  His mouth then finds one straining nipple while his fingers tease the other.  The heat from his mouth followed by the cold when he pulls away causes my body to arch in pleasure.  “Ah Ian, please.”  Now that my voice works again I beg him for the release that my body is craving, for the touch that I need from him like I need air to breathe.  I feel his smile against my skin as he kisses his way across my breast bone to the other breast.  He switches sides with hand and mouth, never giving attention to one side without giving it to the other.  I’m burning up inside with need.  A whimper escapes my lips.  My trembling body evidence of what he’s doing to me.