The Ballerina's Stand (16 page)

Suddenly, she planted her hand in the middle of his chest, the plaster cast solid and definitely immovable. He dragged deep breaths into his lungs. If she said no now, he'd stop. It would kill him, but he'd respect her wishes.

Using her good hand, she tugged at the medical tape at the edge of the bandages.

“No,” he said then cursed the silence. Was it dark enough that her eyes wouldn't hurt? He didn't know. He understood her need to see, yet fear nearly made him pull away.

Lauren tugged the bandages off, and, blinking rapidly, she looked up at him. He'd almost forgotten how beautiful, how deep, how expressive her eyes were. He couldn't look away. He didn't ever want to.

She pulled her arm back and slid her uninjured arm around his neck, curling her legs around his hips, urging him closer.

Gently, he waited, poised until he knew he couldn't wait any more. She trembled against him, and he was done. With one hard thrust, he was deep inside her. Soft heat engulfed him as he moved, faster, harder. She matched his movements with the same urgency, driving him to the edge.

And then she fell over it. Her eyes drifted closed, and she arched into him, into his release as she tightened around him. And he kissed her.

* * *

S
HE
KISSED
HIM
BACK
, deep and hot, finding a second release as he filled her. Would she ever come back to earth again? She hoped not. She didn't ever want to.

Carefully opening her eyes, Lauren still had her arm around him—his big body still covered hers. She didn't want to lose this connection.

Jason lifted his head, but otherwise didn't move. Slowly, he kissed each of her eyelids. The tenderness melted her heart and in that instant, she knew she'd fallen head over heels for this man.

All the things he'd done for her filled her mind. He was learning sign for her. He'd saved her from the fire and cared for her afterward. He'd taken Tina out of a bad situation. He'd befriended Dylan and Maxine. And he'd made such sweet love to her.

Her vision was still blurred, but with what little light there was, she stared up at him, never wanting to look away.

And then he sealed the deal. He smiled at her. She'd never seen anything more wonderful. She had to have more, had to taste that happiness.

She knew then that she'd spend a lifetime never getting enough.

* * *

S
OMETHING
BUZZED
.
In the distance. Growing louder. Finally, Jason woke up. His phone. The one he'd sent Susan after to replace the one lost in the fire. It was vibrating against something. Somewhere. He hadn't set any ringtone.

With a curse, he hustled into the living room to grab it, feeling like an idiot when he realized it didn't matter. The sound wouldn't wake Lauren. “Hello?”

“What in the world are you thinking?” Addie's voice came loud and clear through the phone.

Jason smiled as he went back into the bedroom to grab his discarded jeans.

She couldn't see him, but somehow talking to his sister in the buff didn't feel right. “Hold on a second.” He put the phone down and pulled jeans and a T-shirt on. “Okay, I'm back.”

His oldest sister had always been a morning person, and he wasn't surprised that she was calling now. She often tried to catch him before he left for the office. She wouldn't know he wasn't going in today.

She wasn't a chatterer, like Tara or Mandy. She was the oldest, and was always in business mode. Even at DJ and Tammie's wedding, she'd let loose only so much. Briefly, he wondered if she'd ever let go and let herself fall in love. He couldn't remember her dating much in high school or since. Frowning, he walked back onto the balcony.

Addie's heart was in the right place, but she was never one to back off when she had a bone to pick. And she never called him without said bone in place.

“You didn't answer my question,” she prompted too casually. He looked at the phone, then glanced back at the bedroom. Could she know? No.

“At the moment? Nothing. Thinking about having a cup of coffee.” He knew that was an answer that would have gotten him a smack on the head years back. Now his older sister was a thousand miles away and couldn't touch him. Besides, he had no clue what she was talking about—the list of possibilities was too long right now.

“That's not what I meant, and you know it. Wyatt says you're working for the Haymakers.”

“Sort of.” That was still not an answer she'd like, but it was all he had.

“Dang it, Jason.” He could hear her footsteps as she paced. “I thought you weren't going to.”

“I never said that.”

“Well, you should have.”

Jason laughed. “I'm glad I didn't.” Lauren's face came to mind. “Did Wyatt happen to mention Lauren?”

“Uh—the—ballet dancer? Uhm, yes.” The silence was uncomfortable.

“It's okay, Ad. You can mention it. Yes, she's deaf.”

“I... Jason, is she really Pal's daughter?”

He wasn't sure which part concerned Addie more. “What's really going on, Ad?” He didn't want to argue with his sister, nor did he feel as if he needed to justify his actions. She'd never stopped trying to be a mother to all of them, but something about all this was off.

“I just worry.” She took a deep breath. “Trey Haymaker's resurfaced and he's been running his mouth off and...”

There was a tremor in Addie's voice and Jason's senses went on high alert. “What happened, Addie? Tell me.”

“I—I was at the store yesterday. I didn't even see him. But he came up to me and grabbed my arm.” Her voice shook, and Jason heard her take yet another deep breath.

“Who? Trey?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Keep going. What did he say?”

“Oh, Jason. I know he wasn't sober. He reeked of alcohol. I know Trey's not that kind of person, and in the past he's been the best of that family.” Her words were rushed, as if she needed to say them quickly to get them out.

Jason took his own deep breath. “Addie. Focus.” He felt like he was interviewing a reluctant witness. “What did he say?”

“He said—he said it so harsh—that he was going to kill her. This Lauren. Then yelled that he would go after you next. He—” Her voice hiccuped. “He was so angry. I've never seen him like that.”

Jason froze. The man in the studio hadn't been Trey, had he? No, Jason was sure of it. Besides how could he be here in LA and there in Texas at nearly the same time? Then again, Trey had enough money to hire someone,

Jason was back to wanting to put his fist through something, or someone. “Did he hurt you?” He knew his anger was clear.

“No. Just squeezed my arm. A...a young man down the aisle was there and interrupted him. Oh, Jason, he seriously scared me.”

As soon as they were off the phone, he would call Wyatt. He needed to keep an eye on Addie—and an eye out for Trey.

The sound of someone knocking on the apartment door made Jason frown. No one knocked on the door. He couldn't remember anyone he wasn't expecting ever showing up here. Even packages, which were few and far between, were delivered to his office. Not his apartment.

But with Lauren here, any number of people could be stopping by to see her. He'd told the kids and Maxine to come by whenever. “Hold on, Addie.” Jason pulled his phone away from his ear. “Just a minute,” he called, hoping whoever it was heard him.

Lauren was still in the bedroom, hopefully asleep, though he needed to help her with the medication and bandages soon. He hoped the vibration of the pounding didn't wake her.

He opened the door—and never saw the fist coming.

 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

L
AUREN
NEEDED
TO
put the bandages back on. Even the small amount of light filtering in from the hallway burned. Keeping her eyes closed helped, but the conscious effort of doing that was draining. And not nearly as effective. She'd just swung her legs over the bed to reach for the medicine and gauze when the picture hanging over the headboard moved. What the—? She flinched away in case it was an earthquake. It didn't happen again.

Her injured eyes open, she saw the light in the living room shift. She grabbed the nearest piece of clothing, Jason's shirt that she'd tossed to the floor earlier. It was way too big, but it would do.

What was going on? Standing, she moved cautiously to the doorway and peered out. She could see Jason, his back to her, and beyond him, another man in the doorway. She couldn't quite make out the man's features. She shielded her eyes as she stepped farther into the painful light.

The stranger swung and hit Jason in the jaw. Jason stumbled back. Shocked, Lauren rushed forward, just as Jason got his balance back and grabbed the man. Jason was a big man, but so was the other guy. Jason shoved him out the door and pinned the man to the far wall with his forearm across his throat. The decorations hanging on the wall beside the elevator shook just like the picture over the bed had.

Jason was talking to the man, but his teeth were clenched, so from this angle she couldn't read his lips. She glanced around for a weapon, knowing she'd be worthless in a fight, but she had to help him. She had to—

The stranger saw her then, and while she couldn't fully meet his gaze and focus, she felt it. Anger. Pain. Something else, something dark, came at her. She shivered, and took a reflexive step back from the rage—and from the wicked scent of alcohol wafting off the man.

Jason turned his head then and saw her as well. The only other time she'd seen him angry was when he'd brought Tina away from the foster home. That had been indignant anger. This...this scared her. It was a rage.

Jason gave the other man another hard shove and stepped back, slamming the apartment door in his face. He twisted the lock with a harsh turn.

Even though the door was closed, Jason was still talking, probably yelling if his facial expression and body language were any indication.

When he finally turned around, she stared. Blood trickled from the left corner of his mouth.

* * *

J
ASON
MIGHT
BE
a civilized corporate attorney, but he'd grown up in Texas. And somehow, the wilds of Texas had just shown up in LA, and not even Trey Haymaker got in more than one sucker punch. Especially a drunk Trey Haymaker.

Though the door was closed solid between them, Jason still didn't trust the other man. He waited, the last few minutes flashing through his mind as he fought to catch his breath.

A high-pitched voice somewhere in the distance called Jason's name. He looked around, knowing it wasn't Lauren. The phone was on the floor, and Addie was screaming from a thousand miles away.

Addie's words from earlier echoed around him. Trey had threatened to kill Lauren. Jason had to keep her safe.

Another sound startled him, and he looked back to see Lauren step farther into the living room. He prayed he could protect her. He'd slammed and locked the door, but he looked back now, just to make sure it remained locked.

A fist hit the other side of the door. “Get the hell out of here, Trey.”

“Jason!” Addie's voice came from the phone still on the floor. He scooped it up, meeting Lauren's pain-filled gaze as he straightened.

“I'm fine, Ad. I'll call you back.” He hung up on his sister, knowing there'd be hell to pay later, but the woman standing in front of him was more important.

Lauren stared wide-eyed at him, her injured eyes still red and watering. Or were those tears? Had she recognized Trey? Could she even see well enough to tell who he was? What was going through her head? She backed up. Afraid, or protecting herself from the pain of the light? He reached for her, but she scurried away.

He didn't know what he expected, but her ducking into the bathroom wasn't it. He heard the water running, and she hastily came back out to him. She lifted a damp washcloth, and cool water soaking the fabric, she pressed it to his lip. When she pulled it away, he saw the bright stain of his blood.

Shit
. Trey had busted his lip. It wasn't his first, and probably wouldn't be his last, but he hated it now. Trey had scared the crap out of both Lauren and Addie for it. The man had talent.

Talent that didn't extend to enough smarts to know when he wasn't wanted. He pounded on the door again.

“Go away, Trey,” Jason yelled. “I'm not letting you in.”

“Is that her?” Trey's words were clear. He must be right next to the door. Jason clenched his jaw to keep his anger in check, and words he'd most likely regret from erupting.

“Let me in, Jason.” Another fist hit the door. “This is between me and her.”

Jason stalked to the door, curling his fingers around the doorknob, forcing himself not to turn it. Letting that idiot in might make him feel better, but it wouldn't help Lauren. “Get out of here.” He squeezed the knob harder. “We'll talk when you're sober.”

“You're one of
us
,” Trey practically yelled the last word. “She's not.”

Vague, muffled comments about Jason being a wimp and a chicken came through the thick wood. But they were fading. Hopefully Trey was leaving. Jason sighed, ashamed that this man was from the same neighborhood where he'd grown up. His brother actually considered him a friend?

“Was that
T
-
r
-
e
-
y
?” Lauren signed and Jason's heart sank. He would have to explain.

* * *

L
AUREN
RECOGNIZED
T
REY
'
S
—albeit blurred—face from the pictures she'd pulled up on the internet when she'd first found out about her father. Her mind raced. Why was he here? Why had he punched Jason?

The blood on Jason's lip still scared her. She reached up to put the washcloth against his lip again, but he took it from her and did it himself this time.

Her eyes burned. The pain increased each time she turned her head. She needed to get back to the darkness, knew the risks of more damage to her eyes, but if Jason was hurt—

He started talking, and she tried to focus on his moving lips. But the bright sunlight pouring through the living room windows was like a knife. “I can't see enough,” she signed, her panic too strong as he frowned, struggling to read her one-handed sign.

She swallowed back her frustration and fear, not sure if it was fear for her vision, or fear for this man who meant entirely too much to her all of a sudden.

Jason guided her back into the darkened bedroom where she sat down on the mattress. Carefully, he knelt in front of her, letting the light from the hall fall on his face and not hers.

“I'm fine,” he said, and she was relieved she could see well enough to read his lips, though her gaze kept catching on the cut. “You need to take care of your eyes,” he said as he reached up and touched her temple.

He picked up the tube of medication from the nightstand and their gazes met. She stopped his hand, shaking her head.

“What's the matter?” His frown was full of concern.

“What happened?” she signed. She saw the picture over the bed tremble again.

“Don't worry.”

She frowned back at him. “You're nuts,” she signed and pointed to the moving picture. “That—” What did she call Trey? Lunatic? Idiot? “He's still pounding on the door, isn't he?”

“Not for long.” As if suddenly remembering the phone in his hand, he dialed. She saw the word
guard
appear on the screen. The picture moved again. His neighbors had probably beat him to the call.

“The guard's on the way up,” Jason explained.

She waited only a second before signing, “Tell me.”

“Tell you what?” Jason didn't meet her eyes, and she grabbed his arm to keep him from moving away.

“Tell me,” she signed again, her motions harsher this time. “Why is he here?”

Jason looked down. Slowly, he signed, in sync with his words. She was almost too upset to notice that change. He didn't often do that, combining words with sign like Dylan and Maxine, like longtime signers did.

“I think.” He touched his forehead for the sign and then rubbed it. “To hurt you.”

“What? Why?”

Jason shrugged. “Addie, my oldest sister was on the phone.” He lifted the phone he still held. “He told her that he was going to kill you. Then he said he'd come for me.”

* * *

T
HE
HURT
AND
DISAPPOINTMENT
on Lauren's face was too much. Jason stood, pulling her against him. He'd never lied to her, and wouldn't start now. He knew she craved a family, knew she hoped that somehow these people she didn't know would accept her. This wasn't what she wanted.

Lauren pulled away then, picked up the scattered bandages and medicine and stalked to the bathroom. She closed the door and he heard the lock click in place. He'd leave her alone for now.

The pounding at the door had stopped and his phone rang. The guard. “We've got it handled, Mr. Hawkins.” The man's deep voice sounded official. “Do you want us to call the police? Are you pressing charges?”

Trey would be even more ticked then. “No. Just send him somewhere to sober up.” Jason couldn't do anything more about Trey right now.

Once he'd hung up, the phone rang again, and he looked down at the display. Addie. He cursed. He didn't want to talk to her right now, but she'd been nearly as scared by Trey as Lauren had. His older sister had always been there for him. It wasn't fair to ignore her now. “Hello, Ad.”

“Are you okay?” He heard the tears, heard the panic and fear.

“Yes. We're fine.”

“We?”

“Uh, yeah. Lauren's here.”

“With you?”

He couldn't even begin to explain everything to Addie right now. He gave her the abridged version of the fire, of Lauren's injuries and why she was here. He left out the details of last night and this morning. But he heard his sister's suppositions.

“Do you think Trey had anything to do with the fire?” she asked softly.

“I don't know.” And he didn't. After the wildfire in Texas that Pal had caused, and that had nearly been blamed on Trey, Jason couldn't see Trey being that mean, or that stupid. But the man was far from rational these days.

The bathroom door opened then, and Jason simply stared. Lauren stood there, all her copper curls wound up in a towel on top of her head. Another towel wrapped around her body. Barely.

She held it up with her casted arm. “Need your help,” she signed.

Once again, Jason hung up on his sister.

* * *

L
AUREN
LOOKED
AT
J
ASON
, wishing she could see more clearly and yet enjoying the muted view of him sitting there, on the edge of the bed, in the—thankfully—dim light. He looked less intimidating, less intense than the man she'd hurried away from moments before.

Not because she was afraid of him—but because she couldn't trust herself.

In the enclosure of the shower, she'd felt enveloped by him—his scent, the dark masculine color of the tile, the memory of all he'd done to protect her.

The mild-mannered lawyer she'd come to respect was a warrior at heart. And that confused her.

And intrigued her. She took a step forward and froze when he looked up at her. Heat burned in his eyes. She swallowed the ache rising in her throat. “
I
n
-
e
-
e
-
d
your
h
-
e
-
l
-
p
,” she signed one-handed, having to spell rather than sign.

Jason nodded, the action seeming to bring the shutters down over his emotions. He moved toward her. Lauren felt the distance yawn between them, even though he was closer. Why was he shutting down and pulling back? Was he regretting taking her and all this baggage in? She barely resisted the urge to step back.

The hand that took hers, guiding her back to the bed, was warm, gentle, restrained. He paused.

Jason stared at her with such intensity, she felt the hot impact. “Oh, hell,” his lips said an instant before he leaned down and kissed her—hard, hungry, wanting.

He didn't have to sign anything. She let the towel drop and leaned into him, her own adrenaline pushing her to him. She had to stand on tiptoes to reach him, but she didn't hesitate.

He tugged the towel from her head, letting her half-dry curls fall in damp coils down her back. She burned so hot that the coolness felt good, tickling and teasing her sensitive skin.

The love they'd made before had been perfect for a first time. But this? This was different.

This was hot, and harsh, and Lauren hung on tight for the ride she knew would be quick and rough and delicious.

There was no slow, sensuous undressing as she was already way ahead of him. He ripped his T-shirt over his head, barely giving her time to enjoy the view of all that naked chest before he shucked off his jeans. She could only stare.

Slowly, like a powerful predator, Jason pushed her back onto the bed, his knee already parting her thighs. She felt the cool mattress for only an instant before he rolled over her and pulled her with him.

Suddenly, he was on his back, his hands on her hips as he settled her over him. Her breath came in hot pants of need. Every inch of her ached to possess him.