Part 4 (1/2)

He knew it had something to do with what had happened today.

”No. What's going on? I want to know why you were so comatose that you couldn't hear someone pounding on the door. Why you had to be shocked to come around. I want to know what happened to make you so afraid to say anything to me.”

”You don't get to...I found him all right? One of the little boys your mom asked me about.

His mother killed him then buried him under a big tree not far from the trailer where he lived. I saw it, her throwing him against the counter, her picking up the shovel and hitting him over and over until his head was mashed in. Then she wrapped him in a black trash bag and took him outside and buried him with the same shovel she killed him with. I felt it, the pain, the sorrow. I felt each strike of the heavy shovel. I felt each time the shovel vibrated against his tiny...I'm going to be sick.” She darted away and when Jamie went to follow, Devin held him back.

”Not yet. She needs to deal with this. And I need to tell you something. Dane told us today some of what she does when she does this. How much it takes out of her. You don't believe her, she told me. I don't know if I do either. But if that little boy is where she said, she's made a believer out of me. She needs support, not someone who is only in this for s.e.x. You understand what I'm saying to you?”

”You're telling me that if I can't be there for her now, to back the f.u.c.k out. Yeah, I get it.

But I didn't ask for, nor do I need your advice. I'm going to see if she's all right.” Jamie went to the bathroom door and waited for her. He saw his brother talking to the police. Jamie knew that one of them was a good friend of Devin's. The police and the medics left a few minutes later. Pi took his mother upstairs again and Byron was on the phone. When the door lock clicked, he stood up and watched her come out of the room.

”I'm drained, Mr. Grant. I don't think I can deal with anything else today. I'll be fine. Why don't you all go home? Pi will be with me.”

”I can't. I need to hold you. Dane, talk to me, please? I want to help. I want to understand what happened here today. Why were you so out of it?”

He didn't think she was going to answer, but when she did, he was surprised. ”If you don't mind staying after...later, I'll tell you. Right now, I can't. Not right now. Okay?”

”Yes. For now anyway. Dane, will you let me hold you, please?”

”Let me change first. I'm cold and wet. I think Pi is fixing something to eat. Go up to the kitchen and I'll be down shortly.” He pulled her to him for a quick kiss and then let her go. He didn't know which of them was more surprised, her because he let her go, or him because he could. He made his way to the kitchen with his family.

”It not big kitchen, but it work. You like food, I cook. Sit! I make dinner. I make real Chinese food, you eat,” Pi was saying as he walked in and sat at the table.

When Margaret asked if she could help, all three boys yelled ”no” all at once. ”I'm not that bad of a cook. I just choose not to. I know how to peel an onion, you know.”

”I have herbs you crush. You no get in my way. Missy Dane friend, you go and take care of Missy Dane. She need you. I see you look at her.”

Jamie blushed bright red and left the kitchen to find Dane when his brothers started in on him. He found her coming down the stairs and met her there. She looked lost.

”What does your family think of me now? I'm betting they think I'm some sort of fool and an idiot. I don't blame them. But I can't help what happens when I...is Pi cooking? She does that when she's nervous.” He noticed she would not look at him.

”I don't think they think anything of you. And yes, Pi is cooking for us. I think you're right.

She needs this after what happened. Are you all right, Dane?” She nodded, but still wouldn't look at him. ”Dane?”

”Mr. Grant, I don't know how Pi got in touch with you, but I a.s.sure you that I will make it so she never bothers you again like this. She shouldn't have called anyone.

Especially...especially not you. She won't do it again.”

”You called me James when I kissed you, when I nearly made love to you. I'd like for you to call me that again. And for you to look at me, please. I'm glad she called me.” He took a step up the stairs toward her and watched as she took one back. ”I don't want to think what might have happened if she hadn't.”

”That was a mistake too. I should never have...we shouldn't have kissed or the rest. Your family doesn't believe in me. You don't even believe in me. I think it's better if we keep this on a professional level.” Two more steps up to her three back. ”Will you stop that?”

”No. I don't think so. I want to take you to your bedroom and make love to you. Several times, as a matter of fact. I want to be buried deep inside of you when I come, feeling you come around me and over me. Whether or not my family believes in you or not is a moot point.” He took another step. ”Do you want me to, Dane?”

”You don't know what happens when I...I can't help that I can do this. I...Mr. Grant, I'm...”

”Dane, you call me Mr. Grant again and I'll paddle your b.u.t.t. I'm Jamie, or James. I want to hear you say it.”

They were at the top of the stairs now and he could see three closed doors behind her. One had to lead to the bathroom he'd heard running when he was in the kitchen, the other two, bedrooms. He wanted to find hers soon and stretch her out on it with him over her.

”You...you need to leave. I have to work tomorrow and I-” He touched her shoulders with just the tips of his fingers. He watched as her eyes darkened and her pulse picked up.

”Which room is yours?” Jamie ran his hands down her arms and to her hands where he laced her fingers with his. He pulled both their hands behind her, pressed her hard against him, and licked along the seam of her lips.

”This isn't...please, you don't want to do this. I'm not going to...oh, James, please.” When she tilted her head and exposed her neck for him, he ran his tongue along the long column and nipped at her beating pulse.

Releasing her hands, he cupped her a.s.s again and picked her up. Her legs wrapped around his hips as her arms encircled his neck. Jamie covered her mouth with his and ate at her as he moved forward toward the wall across from the stairs. Riding her up and down his c.o.c.k, he pressed harder into her when her back touched the wall. Using it as leverage, he pulled her s.h.i.+rt from her jeans and ran his hands under to touch her bare skin.

Heat and soft skin, his hands could not stop touching her. Lifting his hands higher, Jamie cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and moaned at the weight of them in his palms. Using his thumbs, he slid under her bra and rubbed her hard nipples. Need to taste them had him tear from her mouth and pull one into his mouth through the s.h.i.+rt and bra and bite. Her hiss of approval gave him all the encouragement he needed and he started working at the b.u.t.tons while he nuzzled at her full breast and pulled at the other nipple with his thumb and finger.

”I need to taste you. I want to suckle at your breast and taste you. Help me, baby.” She smacked his hands away and lifted her blouse up, unclasping the closure in the front of her lacy blue bra. As soon as it was open, he pushed the edges open and rubbed his nose over the hard peak then took it deep into his mouth. She was rocking hard against him and with every push from the wall into his body, he countered with a rock back. When he bit down on her nipple, she moaned and growled at him.

”Please, James. If you don't stop, I'm going to come right now. And your family is right downstairs. You have to stop now before it's too late.”

”It's already too late. Come for me, baby. Come right now. I'll catch you. I want to feel you come.”

He rocked harder and with his free hand, he reached between them and pressed his thumb against her c.l.i.t hard and then harder still. When her body stiffened and he felt her start to shatter around him, he covered her mouth with his and captured her screams.

Jamie kept rocking into her heat. His c.o.c.k ached to be released and driven into her hard and fast. He held her as she came down, held her as her body became relaxed, sated and limp against him. When she rested her head on his shoulder, he let her legs fall to the floor, but he did not let go of her. Soon her breathing became normal and with it, came her withdrawal from him. He leaned back and pulled her body to his again.

”No. Look at me. Dane, look at me. Don't pull away. Talk to me, baby. Tell me what's wrong.”

She looked up at him then, her eyes full of sorrow and hurt. He wondered what he'd done then realized that this was old pain. She had been hurt by someone; someone had hurt her during s.e.x or about s.e.x. She was ashamed too, he could see that now. He wanted to find whoever it was and pound the s.h.i.+t out of them.

”I need to tell you something. Show you something about me. I've...you need to see this before we can...before we have any...before, you know.”

”Make love? You meant before we make love? All right. I'll stay after my family leaves.

Will you talk to me then? I want us to be together, baby.”

”Yes. Then if you still want to...if you don't freak out, then we can have s.e.x. But I'll understand if you need to leave. Its...it's happened before.” He was going to find this man who had hurt her and beat the s.h.i.+t out of him. Whoever he was, where ever he was, Jamie was going to beat the guy until he could not walk then start all over. They held hands as they entered the kitchen.

*CHAPTER 8*.

To say that Dane was embarra.s.sed would have been a gross understatement. And she did not know how they knew, but his brothers kept looking at her as though she had a sign that said ”just had incredible climax” on her. Pi was making rice and cutting up vegetables and talking a mile a minute. Dane had been living with her for so long she no longer had to translate in her head what Pi was saying, but the Grants seemed lost.

”She wants to know if you want any egg in your rice. I know asking if you have yellow slime in your diet is a little weird, but she means well. We usually speak in Chinese when we're alone.”

”Oh, well. Pi, you fix it however you wish. I love Chinese food. Morgan will be so jealous.

But now that we're on the subject of translator, could you explain what she means when she calls you her bacon? I've been trying to sort it out and I just...she does have a way with words doesn't she?”

”I say Missy Dane my bacon. She bring it home and I cook it. I no have job, I her...what are I Missy Dane? And be nice. We have people.”

”You're my companion. And my friend. I simply couldn't make it without you. Although there are days that I think I'd like to try. Pi, how did you get Mr. Grant's phone number to call him?”