After the Hurt Read online

  Finally, they were alone and Pepper closed the hospital room door. She gazed at him with love and humor now that all the drama had settled down. He looked so funny lying there with his feet hanging over the end of the bed.

  Pepper laughed. “Look at you, Mr. Big in a bed too small.”

  “Ha-ha, not too funny.” He winced when she gently touched his bandaged feet.

  “Are you in pain?”

  “Not as much as I would have been in if I’d lost you.”

  She pressed her lips into a thin line, thinking of the preceding hours. It had been terrifying to discover Tank had been shot in his thigh and had the soles of his feet torn to shreds by the glass. She was lucky, just a gash on the head from when he’d pushed her out of bed and hit the nightstand. But if he hadn’t…She shuddered, knowing she’d likely be dead right now.

  “Oh, Tank, I can’t believe all this. It’s crazy.”

  “Come here.” He held out his hand and she took it, sliding onto the bed next to him, careful not to jostle his thigh.

  “Does it hurt a lot?”

  “Nah, I’ve had worse. But it was like that doc was digging for gold trying to find that bullet.”

  Pepper nodded and stroked his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. “At least it was fairly clean and you don’t need surgery on it. But your feet!”

  His laugh rumbled deep in his chest. “Actually, I think it will lead to a perfect situation. You’ll have to wait on me for a little while.”

  She gazed up at him and smiled. “I’ll wait on you until the end of time, Tank.”

  He squeezed her shoulder and pulled tight. Now with this nightmare behind them, maybe they could relax a little.

  “We can focus on us now, right?”

  She felt him nod. “That we can.”

  “I’m not leaving, you know. You can rip up that check and the papers.”

  He didn’t answer her, but his body tensed.

  She leaned up on her elbow and looked at him. Her heart jumped into her throat and her chin quivered. He had tears in his eyes. It was the first time she’d ever seen him cry.

  “I almost lost you. After just getting you back.” She couldn’t look away from him as he spoke. “If you had died, I would have died, but not before killing that bastard.”

  She opened her mouth, but he shushed her. She let him continue to speak.

  “Pepper, you have no idea how glad I am that you came back. It ripped me apart when you left, but I understand now. You’re leaving has made us both grow. What happened tonight only cemented how important you are to me.”

  He smiled, looking a little sleepy from the painkillers. In that moment she knew all she had to do was love him. Plain and simple. Love and cherish him for the rest of their lives.

  “I’m sorry.”

  His eyelids fluttered as he tried to open them. “For what?”

  “For leaving.”

  He gave her his crooked smile. “S’okay. I understand. I’m glad you came back.”

  “Me too.” She gazed at him with love. “I won’t leave again. Promise.”

  “You’d better not.”

  She reached into her pocket and pulled out something she’d almost forgotten she’d had tucked away in her suitcase. “For you. I found it while I was away and had to get it.”

  She held out her hand. He took the roll of fabric and unraveled it, then burst out laughing. “This totally gives it away.”

  “Gives what away?”

  “That you were thinking about me after you ran away.”

  “Of course I was.” She smiled and held the tie decorated with jellyfish and sea urchins up to his neck. “It’s so you and reminded me of the Bahamas.”

  “How you find stuff like this is amazing.” Then he grew serious. “But we have stuff to take care of.”

  “Really? Like what?” She held her breath, dying to know what he was going to say.

  “Pepper, I want you to stay. I want you safe, and this may not be the only freak out there with a hate-on for me.”

  She smiled. “Oh, Tank, nothing and no one will ever make me leave you again. Creeps or no creeps.”

  He pulled her back down into the curve of his side, held her tight, and nodded.

  A knock at the door startled them and then a loud booming voice echoed into the room.

  “Dog! You survived another attack, huh?” Joe swept into the room, his size and presence filling the space. “Pepper, you spicy creature you. I see you’ve decided to come back home and turn Tank’s world upside down again.”

  Tank relaxed his arm and Pepper slid off the bed, rounding it. He smiled when Joe swooped her up and enveloped her in his huge arms, swinging her off her feet. She giggled like a schoolgirl, and if he wasn’t as solid in their relationship as he was, by God, he’d be jealous. But Joe was one of his best friends and Tank knew he’d never cross the line.

  “What are you doing up here? You said you’d never leave Vegas.”

  He put Pepper down and came over to the bed. “Listen, man, when I heard what happened…geez, that really blows.”

  Tank rested his head back on the pillow. “No kidding. But at least they got the guy and likely all the shit will be tied back to the asshole. So we’re in the clear.”

  “Yep, until you attract another crazy fucknut.”

  Tank snorted; he sure did that.

  “What about that chick Olivia?”

  Tank saw Pepper stiffen. “She was nuts too. But the threat of getting a restraining order and police involved seemed to make her clear off. She hasn’t bothered me in a while.” He looked at Pepper and stated clearly, “Nor will she.”

  She smiled at him and he warmed. “Listen, you guys catch up. I’ll go grab some coffees for you.”

  Once she was gone, Joe hauled a chair around and dropped into it. “So what’s going on?”

  Tank shrugged. “Oh, not much. Opened my restaurant, had the love of my life come back to town, then had a crazy lunatic break in and try to kill us. You know, the usual.”

  Joe laughed. “Until the dust settles, why don’t you take off for a while?”

  Tank grinned at him. “Exactly what I had in mind.”

  Chapter 20

  Nothing was finer than watching Pepper wade through the turquoise Bahamian waters in that tiny red polka-dot bikini with her hair all piled on her head. Every now and then she dipped down and picked up a seashell or some other treasure that caught her attention from the sandy bottom. She was his own special mermaid.

  He loved watching her as much as he loved her.

  Tank stretched on the lounge chair, happy to sit on the deck that reached out to the edge of the white sandy beach. Sunlight filtered through the palms that waved overhead. He sighed. Being back here at Spindrift was just what the doctor ordered. They weren’t much into resorts, preferring the privacy of a private house, and Tank was glad Spindrift was available. They loved Long Island, Bahamas. It was their own special island. Hardly anyone knew about it. He glanced down the long crescent beach, shielding his eyes from the glare coming off the sparkling water. There were only three other beach houses on the two-mile stretch of pure white sand. The other way had a house about a quarter mile up.

  Private.

  Perfect.

  Pepper was in waist-deep water now and out a fair distance. It stayed shallow for a good way. He was eager for her to come in but didn’t call her. She loved shelling and he smiled, glancing over at the variety of shells she had drying on the deck. He knew he’d be the one schlepping them back to the city too.

  He sat and swung his feet over the side of the lounge and winced at the twinge in his thigh. It was still tender after the shooting. Gingerly, he put his bare feet down on the deck. They were healing quickly, and he walked in the seawater often. The salt was a great healing force. And as Pepper said, walking on the beach gave them their daily ion cleanse. The shit she came up with.

  Tank glanced out at the water to make sure all was well with her before walking, s
till with a faint limp, through the wide-open doors of the main building into the living area. Very comfortable couches lined the walls, covered in white heavy cotton, and slatted windows rose above them. It was an open-concept living area with double high-rounded ceilings. Using Quonset huts for the buildings had been a genius idea. The two other smaller Quonset huts winged this main living area and were connected by an array of wooden decking all tucked nicely under mature palm trees and ringed with blooming hibiscus and bougainvillea. They’d been painted a beautiful sky blue and the white accents gave a very airy appeal. Wide doors at the front and back, which Pepper kept propped open, allowed the ocean breeze to blow through. There was no need for air-conditioning.

  Tank walked around the large kitchen island to the fridge and pulled out the champagne bottle. He got down two flutes from the shelves, then poured ice into the bucket around the bottle to chill it. Taking the glasses and ice bucket, Tank went back outside to the beach gazebo. Pepper had tied back the gauzy drapes that morning; he loosened the ties so the drapes hung down and billowed with the sea breeze. A large almost king-size lounge with a deep, comfy mattress took up a fair bit of the space. Colorful pillows were piled high and a fan turned lazily in the peaked ceiling. They usually lay out there to watch the sunset, but he had other plans for this afternoon. He touched his pocket to reassure himself.

  Setting the bucket and glasses down on a rattan table, Tank went down to the edge of the water.

  “Pepper!” he called across the waves. She turned. “Come in.”

  She waved back and waded toward him through the water. Tank lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the reflection of the sun on the water. It almost made her seem surreal. The bright rays of the sun created a halo effect around her body. He was so glad they’d decided to take this trip and shut out the world for a little while. They needed to regroup and he wanted her all to himself now and for the rest of his life.

  “Come.” Pepper emerged from the surf and beckoned him. “Let’s shower off the salt.”

  “I’m not salty.”

  She gave him a sexy smile and his balls tightened. “Oh, yes you are. C’mere.”

  Pepper stood on a slab of coral under the palm with a showerhead attached high on the tree trunk. She twisted the tap open. A spray of water rained down and sluiced over the curves and valleys of her body to puddle on the coral at her feet. He watched her shake out her hair until it hung down her back, slick and shiny. She gave him another cheeky smile and turned her back while she swept her hands over her skin.

  Tank walked up behind her and pulled at the string holding her bikini top in place. She laughed, a deep throaty and sexy sound he’d so missed while she’d been gone. She didn’t turn around and he placed his hands on her sides, lightly holding her. Pepper leaned back into him and he slid his palms over her slippery skin, up under her breasts, cradling them.

  She sighed and dropped her head back on his shoulder.

  “Oh, Tank. I’m so glad we came here.”

  He leaned down and nuzzled the curve of her neck she’d just exposed for him. He pressed his tongue to her skin and licked. “Mmm, you are salty, Ms. Pepper.”

  Her chest rose and fell under his hands as he kneaded her breasts, rubbing his palms over the stiffening peaks.

  “A little salt is good for you. Just like pepper.” She moaned as he took her earlobe between his lips.

  Pepper grabbed his hands and held them against her breasts. Tank pushed his hips into her ass, needing to feel her sweet cheeks against his hard-on. Their bathing suits were a frustrating barrier. Running a hand down and over her firm belly, he slipped it underneath her bikini bottom. Dipping lower, he fluttered his fingers over her pussy lips, pressing through the folds until she moaned again. Finding her clit, he teased her, chuckling when she sagged into his arms.

  She reached behind and grabbed his cock through his trunks.

  “Time to get naked.” He gritted out the words and twirled her around. Standing back, he eyed her up and down. “God, I love looking at you.”

  Pepper smiled and ran her hands up her sides, over her breasts, lingering for a moment as she teased him by playing with her nipples before reaching high to gather her hair. He stepped back, unable to tear his gaze away from her as she shook out her hair and arched her back, forcing her tits higher. He would never get tired of her.

  She gave him a wicked smile and cocked her hip. His attention was drawn to the little strip of red fabric she called a bikini bottom. “Like what you see, big boy?”

  “More than like.” Tank reached out and grabbed her, pulling her to him probably a little too roughly, but he knew she wouldn’t complain. Lifting her easily so she was able to wrap her legs around his hips. She wound her arms about his neck and tightened her thighs so his dick pressed next to her bikini-clad pussy. “I always said you were a redheaded witch.”

  “And I’ve put a spell on you. Forever.” She touched her forehead to his and Tank felt her love.

  “Yes, you have.” Tank tipped his face and caught her lips. She opened under his and he sought her tongue, keeping her tight in his arms as they walked back through the soft sand to the gazebo.

  Not breaking their kiss, he lowered her to the lounge and reached down to rip away her bikini bottom.

  She gasped and he lifted his head to look down into her surprised eyes. “Problem?”

  “If you keep ripping all my bathing suits off and ruining them, I’ll have nothing to wear. It’s not like I can run out to the mall here on Long Island to get another one.”

  “Maybe that’s the point. Long Island, Bahamas, is remote enough that there’s no need for clothes anyway.”

  “Speaking of clothes.” Pepper raised her ginger brows and indicated his trunks. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Shuck ’em.”

  “Your wish is my command.” Tank stood and ran his thumbs around the waistband of his suit. He’d taken one for the team when Pepper’d wanted to see Magic Mike—though their after-movie sex had made it worthwhile. And even though dancing had never been his forte, he knew the moves. Seeing Pepper naked and waiting for him, he thought perhaps he could put on a bit of a show for her.

  He moved his hips and winked at her. Pushing the edge of his trunks a little lower. She laughed and clapped her hands. “Do it, baby! Take it off.” She taunted him by cupping her breasts and widening her knees a little bit so he could see the neatly trimmed strip of ginger hair that led right down to her very inviting pussy.

  “Keep that up and my trunks will end up like your bikini bottoms.”

  “I don’t really find that a threat,” she purred and widened her knees a little more, moving her hands to her inner thighs and resting them there.

  Dance show forgotten, Tank shoved his shorts down and kneeled on the lounge, he curled his fingers around her ankles. She drew in a breath and their gazes locked. A breeze blew in off the ocean, carrying the scent of flowers and sea spray that mingled with her own unique scent. Tank inhaled. Pepper was silent as she watched him, her violet eyes drawing him deeper and deeper until he was lost in them.

  She raised her arms. “Come to me, Tank. Make love to me.”

  He remembered saying months ago when she first came back that he’d never make love to her again, after the way she tore his heart to shreds. That was in the past and their whole future lay in front of them.

  And yes, he would make love to her. As often as she wanted. Forever.

  —

  Pepper’s heart was close to bursting. Tank whisking her away to their favorite outer island in the Bahamas had been unexpected. And so needed after everything that had happened to them. It had taken a while to calm down, for him to get out of the hospital and heal. It was sheer bliss being here with him. Just the two of them with no pressures or distractions. It was as close to perfect as it could get.

  Having him all to herself was more than she could ask for. She looked up at this man she loved more than life itself. She had hurt him. Badly.
Something she would never do again. He came to her now when she opened her arms, settling between her thighs.

  “Oh, Tank. I’m so happy we came here.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  “Baby, stealing you away for myself was one of the easiest things to do.”

  She turned and gazed into his eyes. The gentle softness in them clouded with passion when she tipped her hips, needing to feel his hardness. Their playful sexual banter of seconds ago turned tender, loving.

  “I want you, Tank. Always.” Pepper reached between them and grasped his cock, guiding him into her. She moaned as he flexed his hips, pushing into her, filling her slowly, sweetly. It was so achingly delicious that after a couple deep, steady thrusts he had her quivering under him. Pepper locked her heels behind his back and raised her hips. Meeting him.

  She bit her lip, knowing if she moaned or spoke to him, telling him deeper or faster, he’d come quicker and she didn’t want that. She wanted this to last forever. It was all about forever, now that they were past the hurt. Fixing themselves and their relationship was why they were here. They had all the time in the world.

  She ran her fingertips up his back, loving the feel of his muscles, and stroked his neck. His hair was growing back and she pushed her fingers into the strands. It was symbolic to her that he’d started to let his hair grow back again. She nuzzled his neck and this time was unable to hold back a moan as his cadence increased.

  She loved making love with him.

  Tank groaned and lifted his head. He looked down at her, the tension on his face evident. She noticed the way the muscles in his neck and shoulders bunched.

  Pepper stroked his face. “My love. We’re after the hurt now.”

  He smiled and she trembled at the emotion she saw on his face. What a change from when she’d first come home and she couldn’t read him at all. He was back. Her old Tank.