Burning Truth (Lost and Found Columbus #3)

Chapter 12

12

S evern didn’t know how to react to the playfulness he saw in Addie’s expression. It wasn’t the way he normally did things. Usually, he chatted some chick up in a bar and they came to a mutual agreement to blow off some steam.

Normally, they had seen his hands and arms and face, so when he kept his shirt on, they didn’t say anything. He made sure the woman found her pleasure, then he pounded into her and was done. They never saw each other again. It was enough to scratch the itch, but that was the extent of it.

Addie was putting the entire night on a different footing. Talking about love and now removing his shirt. He didn’t think she would ever say anything derogatory to him about his injuries, but he was still feeling a little raw and uncertain. He didn’t like the insecurity.

If he’d known he was going to take off his shirt, he would have turned off the bathroom light.

She angled her head, following his glance. “No, you shouldn’t have turned off the light. There’s nothing here that turns me off or disgusts me. I see you very differently than you see yourself,” she said, her voice low and breathy. Her hand covered the scars on his cheek, and she nudged his head to look at her. “I swear to you, Severn, I see more than these scars.”

Severn clenched his jaw and refused to acknowledge the emotion tightening his throat. They were just words. But for tonight, he would go along as if he believed them.

Saying nothing, he followed her to the bed and took her mouth. She had the most interesting flavor, soft and sweet, intriguing. Most of the time, he could take the kissing or leave it, but he enjoyed Addie’s mouth.

And then she wrapped her arms and legs around him, and it felt so right. The cradle of her hips welcomed his, and he knew if he didn’t slow down, it was all going to be over too soon. He wanted to just savor the moment, so he rested on an elbow to the side, and looked down her length. Yeah, she was the total package. If he had a type, she would totally be it, curvy and soft in all the right places. There was a roundness to her lower tummy, and he was suddenly struck with the image of her belly even more rounded. With his child.

The thought made him rear his head back in shock, but his dick hardened even further at the thought. “You are beautiful,” he whispered, and her eyes softened.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Severn cupped her breast, and her eyes fluttered shut. The texture of her skin was buttery soft, and he worried that his rough hands would abrade it. She moaned at his touch, though, and he knew he had to explore more. His palm slid down her body, across the dip of her waist to the patch of thick dark curls between her thighs. And when he slid a finger deeper, he found how very excited she was.

Dick aching, he explored her body. She very helpfully opened her thighs for him, and then she cupped her own breasts, her head twisting on the pillow. The dark mass of curls splayed across the pillow, and her mouth was puckered, as if waiting for his kiss. Severn could have come right then and there, just from watching her, but he forced his excitement down. He would make sure she found her pleasure, then he would let himself have fun.

He found her clit, and she jerked, gasping on the bed. She undulated against his hand, and once again he was forcing his own orgasm back. His dick was already leaking pre-cum against her hip.

Breathe, fucker! You’re not going off like a damned teenager!

Addie’s hand reached down to cover his, and she showed him exactly how she wanted him to move. And when she arched and moaned with the most beautiful orgasm he’d ever seen, he realized the depth of the trouble he was in.

Addie rippled around his hand, and when she finally released him, she sank back against the mattress, her arms above her head and an extremely satisfied smile on her lips. “That was glorious,” she breathed, her gaze connecting to his.

Severn grinned and cocked a brow. “Obviously,” he murmured, then reached to the foot of the bed for the towel hanging on the post. He wiped his hand, then reached for the condom. Once he was wrapped, he looked at Addie. A soft smile curved her lips, and once again, she was holding her arms open for him. Severn crawled over her body and lowered himself, resting the tip of his cock at her entrance. She did something with her lower body and it was as if her lips kissed the tip of him. For a second, he closed his eyes, hoping that he could maintain. He hadn’t even gotten inside her, and he knew that it was going to be different than any other woman he’d ever been with.

Lost in need, he found her mouth. Very slowly, he squeezed his hips upward, his dick breaching her. The heat of her body... fuck...

Then she widened her thighs, and Severn felt her fingernails dig into his ass. “I want you in me,” she breathed against him.

Yeah, he was good with that.

Arching his hips, he slid into her, moaning at the feel of her grip on his shaft. Then she pulsed her hips toward him, and he lost all hope of concentration. Surging and retracting, he pounded into her, feeling that tingling surge up from his balls. Addie’s hips rocked into his in time with his thrusts, and when she cried out with her second orgasm, her body tightening even more around his, he couldn’t hold it off any longer.

The orgasm that slammed through him damned near knocked him out. His consciousness hazed, focusing down only on the pleasure ripping through his body. It was the most intense orgasm he’d ever felt.

Severn didn’t think he lost consciousness, but there definitely seemed to be a gap in his awareness as he finally opened his eyes. Addie was holding him tight, and they were a little sweaty. Her panting breath teased at his ear. Shifting, he propped himself up on an elbow, though his muscles seemed to be sapped. “Are you okay?”

Her smile widened. “I’m better than okay. How about yourself?”

He snorted and reached down to hold the condom as he pulled out of her. “I’m... same.”

He didn’t have words for anything else. Rolling out of the bed, he crossed to the bathroom and disposed of the condom, then immediately returned. Addie shifted to the side to let him lay down, then curled against him when he was settled. Severn’s arm was wrapped around her, and her hand splayed on the scars of his chest. He didn’t mind, though. Maybe he was just too tired to mind... He’d had some odd sleeping situations this week.

“The house is locked up and we need to rest for a while,” he mumbled.

The only response was a soft, feminine snore, and he grinned into the night before pulling the sheet over them both.

Addie shifted her hips. She needed to pee so bad, but she was soooo comfortable...

Severn sighed in his sleep, tightening his arm around her, and she cracked her eyes open.

The morning sun was coming through the blinds, highlighting his strong profile. His scarred side was to her, which he wouldn’t like, but she didn’t care. It was all a part of him, just like his dark hair and dark hazel eyes. She loved the way he looked. And man, those eyelashes… she’d pay good money for eyelashes like that.

Her hand was on his scarred chest. Again, it didn’t bother her. Only the thought of the amount of pain that he had to have gone through bothered her. She loved the koi tattoo across his chest. The artist was brilliant, with the way they’d blended the colors with the scar tissue. It was vibrant with color, and it had been so surprising when he’d walked into the office the other day. Severn had no tattoos visible on his skin, but beneath that tee...

His eyes cracked open, and he turned his head to her. She smiled at him, and her body clenched in remembered satisfaction. “Good morning,” she murmured.

“Morning,” he said, bones cracking as he stretched. She also noticed a very nice projection under the sheet.

Addie shifted out from beneath the sheet. She needed to do some business, then she’d come back to take advantage of that projection.

When she left the bathroom, Severn was in the same position, but he was watching the bathroom, as if waiting for her to return. Addie grinned, cupping her breasts for him, and crossed the bedroom, gratified to see his erection pulse under the sheet as she walked toward him. She hadn’t bothered with panties because they were just going to be taken off again, anyway.

“Before we get too excited, I have to warn you I don’t have any more condoms,” he said, a growl in his voice. “I only carry one.”

Addie cocked a brow at him and detoured to her nightstand. She drew out a box, dropping it to the bed. “Good thing I’m a safety girl, then,” she said, giggling as she whipped the sheet back. Then, more excited than graceful, she crossed the bed on her hands and knees and straddled his upper thighs. His cock was incredibly hard, and she took a moment to explore his shape with her hands. Then she looked up his delectable body. From this position, it was easier to see where the burn had stopped on his torso.

“You have an almost perfect line where the burn stops.” She traced the line with her finger, from one side of his abs to the other. The skin twitched beneath her finger. “I’m very thankful it didn’t burn anything below the waist.”

She wrapped her hands around his dick, gliding her fingertips over the super-fine, delicate skin.

“I am too,” he said softly. He shifted beneath her touch, growing even harder. Addie pumped her left hand, stroking the head with her thumb, and reached for the box of condoms with her right. It took her two seconds to rip one open and roll it down his length, and then she was going up on one knee. She cocked the other leg out and positioned herself over top of him, then sank down.

They both sighed. Severn’s strong hands adjusted her hips, then lifted to fondle her breasts.

Addie started to rock, and it felt so damn good. It had been a long time since she’d had sex, and her body was hungry. Last night had been amazing, but it had only refined the edge of need. It was still sharp, and he was the one to satisfy her.

Severn was so full inside her. Addie knew that it wouldn’t take long for her to come like this. She shifted her knees, moving her feet forward a little, and rocked back.

“Oh, my god,” she breathed, and felt that building knot of heat flare hotter. She reached to touch herself, but he brushed her fingers away. The pad of his thumb found and started to circle her clit, and she cried out. “Faster,” she told him.

His second hand pinched her nipple, tugging at the tip, and the confluence of everything together sent her over the edge. His touch on her clit slowed, circled, and it was exactly what she needed. The orgasm quaked through her over and over again, until she pushed his hand away. Then she collapsed on his chest, panting.

He was still hard inside her, though. She took a few deep breaths, then lifted her head. “Okay, your turn. How would you like me?”

One side of his mouth tipped up. “I want you face down.”

Within seconds, Addie found herself diagonal across the mattress, her arms wrapped around the corner to hold on as he pounded into her from behind. “Ohhhh,” she moaned. “You’re so fucking deep like this.”

Severn’s strong thighs were wrapped around hers, and his long cock was nestled tight in her cunt. Even though she’d just had one orgasm, Addie knew another was on the horizon. He was hitting her cervix just right...

She tilted her hips up and felt Severn jerk. His cock was gliding along her pelvic bone, and she could tell that he wasn’t going to last long. His movements became more frantic, and he pushed even deeper. “Yes,” Addie cried out, feeling the orgasm roll over her once again. Her pussy pulsed, hard, and she twisted beneath him, but couldn’t get away from the extreme pleasure.

And that was exactly what Severn needed, because he shouted and arched over her back, relaxed and arched sharply again. Addie wished he wasn’t wearing a condom so that she could feel him releasing into her body.

Then he sagged down on top of her, and Addie loved the weight of him covering her. Yes, again, they were a little sweaty, but it was good.

Eventually, he rolled off of her and left to dispose of the condom. She heard the shower start and grinned. Yeah. They both needed to clean up.

When she let herself into the shower through the glass door, he seemed a little surprised. “Mind if I shower with you?”

She wasn’t sure she would leave if he said otherwise, but he nodded. Immediately, he moved to the back of the shower, giving her the full stream. Addie took it, dousing her head beneath the water. Severn stood, watching her, frowning. She peered at him through slitted eyes. Once her head was wet, Addie shifted around behind him and reached for her shampoo. Severn bowed his head under the water, and Addie realized he barely fit beneath the shower head. Damn.

After lathering her hair, she reached for her shower gel, squirting a big dollop in her palm. She lathered herself, then reached out to start soaping Severn’s back. He jerked, like he hadn’t expected her touch, and glanced at her. “I’m just washing your back. You can take care of your front bits,” she grinned.

One corner of his mouth tipped up and he turned to her. “Maybe I’d like you to do it,” he said, voice low.

Addie gave him a saucy grin and handed him the bottle. He squirted a quarter-sized puddle into his hand, rubbed them together, and immediately went for her breasts. Addie giggled, even as tingles rolled through her from his touch. They’d just had incredible sex, but her body was still responding to him.

And his was responding to her. Even as she watched, his long cock began to lengthen. “Don’t get too excited,” she warned him. “After that last pounding, I think I need a bit of a break.”

He cocked his mouth to the side. “Agreed. Doesn’t mean I can’t touch you, though.”

“No,” she said softly, her head tipping forward as he ran his hands all over her body. She was lost in sensation.

Until soap ran into her eyes.

“Oh, crap,” she said, lifting her face to the water stream. She hadn’t rinsed the shampoo from her head. She’d been distracted.

Addie blinked the water away. Severn was grinning at her. “That was your fault,” she said, smacking him on his hard stomach.

He held both hands out. “Not my fault,” he laughed.

They touched lightly and chatted, getting used to each other. Then they dried each other off and headed back to bed. Addie draped a towel over her pillow, because her hair was still wet. She was just not interested enough to blow it dry. The curls would need work tomorrow, anyway. Severn pulled her into his arms like he’d always done it, and they settled down to sleep.

It was surreal sleeping with a woman.

Severn got rest, but it was weirdly like semi-conscious relaxation. They were spooning now, laying on their right side. His arms were full of a beautiful woman, and he didn’t want to sleep through the experience. He listened as she breathed in her sleep, and sighed out these breathy little moans, like she was thinking about the sex earlier.

Fuck, the sex. It was everything he could have hoped for and more. It was beyond anything he could have even dreamed up. Addie was voluptuous and sexy, and she didn’t mind telling him exactly what she wanted and how to get her off. He appreciated that. Some women he’d been with had liked to play coy, like they liked everything he did. He wasn’t a bad lover, but it was a refreshing change to get a little direction rather than fumbling around in the dark.

In his mind’s eye, he could see her arching up off the mattress with her orgasm, and he heard the raspy, broken sound she’d made. Fuck. That would be replaying in his mind for the rest of his life.

Reaching down, he adjusted his hard dick away from her, shifting his hips back a little.

The entire night had confounded him, a little, though. She didn’t care about his scars. He’d watched her face, waiting to see any hint of hesitation or distaste, and he hadn’t seen either.

From personal experience, he knew that wasn’t how most people reacted to him. Had she gotten so used to dealing with all walks of people that his scars really didn’t matter to her? Or was she just learning to be a better actress?

Severn frowned, not liking the thought. Addie had a better, more grounded morality than that.

This was such a fucked up situation, though. What was his morality like, after he’d slept with a client?

Severn opened his eyes. Morning was just beginning to brighten the window on the other side of the room. As if to greet him for the day, his cell phone pinged with a text notification.

This early, it couldn’t be good. He reached behind him to the nightstand and unplugged the device, one-handed, then positioned it in front of his face.

It was from Parker. Better watch the news , it said. Call me after you see it .

Severn shifted away from Addie, trying not to wake her. She turned over to look at him, blinking and yawning. “You all right?”

“Yeah,” he said softly. “Parker just sent a message that I need to look at the news.”

Immediately, she blinked and sat up, her expression going fearful. Severn hated to make her feel that way. Something must have happened for Parker to send him a message.

They dressed and used the bathroom, then went downstairs. Addie found the news channel, and they sat on the couch together. She leaned against him as they watched the segments roll through, but it didn’t take long for them to see it.

Breaking news this morning. A deadly firebombing has rocked a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. Authorities say the attack occurred just after midnight when an improvised explosive device was thrown into a residential home, igniting a massive blaze that quickly engulfed the property. Several witnesses heard the explosion and responded, but nothing could be done. Tragically, two people were killed in the fire, though their identity has not yet been released. Firefighters responded swiftly, but the flames had already spread beyond control before they arrived. Investigators are on the scene, working to determine the motive behind this brutal act. At this time, it’s unclear if the victims were targeted, but local police are urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. We’ll continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as we learn more.

Addie looked at Severn, and he could see the stress in her eyes. “Who’s house was it?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I have to call Parker.”

He put the call through, then hit the speaker button. The line rang only once before it was picked up.

“So, you saw the report.”

“Yes. Do you know whose house it was?”

Parker sighed. “Yes. It belongs to Eloise Flynn. Her son Nelson lives with her.”

Addie gasped, one hand going up to cover her mouth.

“There was a note in the mailbox that said, first one out of the way . The detectives are running the paper for prints, but I doubt we’ll find anything.”

Severn watched tears fill Addie’s beautiful eyes, then roll down her cheeks. She was slowly shaking her head, as if she couldn’t believe what the arsonist had done. Without saying anything, she got up from the couch and disappeared up the stairs.

Parker asked him something, but Severn missed it. “What was that?”

“I said, it’s pretty obvious he thought Flynn was in the way, or something. It also means he sees you as being in the way.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Severn said, standing. He peered up the stairs, wondering if he should go after her. “I’m not worried about him coming after me. I don’t think he’ll risk Addie.”

“Hm, yeah, you may be right. Not sure I’d bank on it, though.”

Addie appeared in his line of sight, her phone in her hand. Her tears were mostly gone, though he could see the tracks of them on her cheeks. She came down the stairs and handed him her phone. On it was the message, ‘I missed you on the air last night. Had to find something else to occupy my time’.

Severn read the message to Parker. “I’ll make sure Gabbie sees it. I messaged her and she’s on her way in to try to track things down. Keep Addie safe, Sev.”

“I plan on it,” he said, voice cold.

This little fucker was pissing him off, and he was going to beat the shit out of him once they found him.

“Are you okay,” he asked Addie, dropping the phones to the kitchen table.

Addie nodded, her arms crossed beneath her breasts. “I’m fine. I’m just tired of the killing. In the warehouse fire, there was a chance he may not have known that there were people squatting upstairs. Not many people knew. But going after Flynn? That was deliberate. And his poor mother died, too.”

Severn opened his arms, and Addie nestled into his chest. Normally, somebody else took care of the coddling, but in this second, there was no way he would let anyone else comfort Addie. Within just a few days’ time, she’d become very important to him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, her head against his chest. Her dark hair was a cloud around her head, and he smoothed it down.

The feelings she evoked in him were strong, and he wasn’t sure exactly what to do about them. For now, he would just have to go with what felt right.