6. Salem, Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

6. Salem

SIX

SALEM

“What are you giggling about over there, Juni Bee?” Drying my hands, I leaned against the kitchen archway and looked at my daughter who was propped on her knees in front of the living room window, her hands plastered to the glass.

She giggled more and pressed her face to the pane.

Amusement rippled through me as I moved that way so I could peer out into the night at what she was staring at across the street.

Or rather, who.

Little Gage was in the exact same position, blowing his lips against the glass and making his cheeks puff out.

The lights were on in both the rooms, and the two of them were lit up in their own personal fishbowls.

Juni howled with laughter. “Mommy, look! My new best friend is the funniest in the whole world, and did you knows he even likes the stars, too?” Her voice lifted in excitement. “He said he’s gots the whole solar system hanging in his room.”

She looked back at me with her blue eyes wide with delight. “Even Mars!”

“Even Mars? No way.”

“Yes, ways!”

Soft laughter slipped from my mouth, and I moved to stand behind her, brushing my fingers through the long tresses of her black hair that was still damp from her bath. Gage waved like mad when he saw me.

Another laugh slipped free, and I waved back.

A grunt sounded from behind us. I glanced back to find Darius standing at the end of the hall. “What’s going on in here?”

“Apparently, our Juni here found a new way to tell her best friend goodnight.”

“Like this, Uncle D!” She leaned up higher and copied the blowing that Gage had been doing, but she didn’t get her mouth fully on the glass, so she just ended up spluttering air and slobbering all over the window.

It only made her laugh harder.

Darius grunted again. “Still think you and Juni should take my room. More privacy that way.”

I smiled back at him. “She clearly doesn’t mind.”

“Nope, not at all. Not one little bits.”

His head shook, all that overprotectiveness pouring out. A frown took to my brow, my heart hurting that he felt this way. Fear and sorrow the thief of his joy. The thief of belief.

“They’re harmless, Darius.” My voice was a whispered plea.

He moved to the front door. He paused with his hand on the knob, contemplating before he swiveled to look at me. “Thought we didn’t trust anyone?”

Sadness bound my spirit. “Maybe it’s time we did.”

Dread tightened his expression. “Trying so hard to give you a life, Salem. A real life. One where none of us have to be afraid.”

A wistful smile pulled to my mouth. “Is it wrong it’s finally starting to feel that way?”

His lips thinned as he contemplated. “No,” he finally said.

Juni grabbed her favorite doll and pressed it to the window, the same as Gage was pressing a teddy bear to his. Darius watched her, his love pouring out. He returned his gaze to me. “I’m going to Carly’s. Just…be careful, okay?”

“I am.”

I’d been careful for years. I’d basically perfected it.

Darius slipped out the door and into the night, and I leaned down and kissed my daughter on the top of the head. “Come on, Juni Bee, you need to finish getting ready for bed.”

“Oh, man, do I have to? Looks it right there. Gage still wants to play, and Molly is finallys getting to say hi to him.” She held her doll out to me like she was a person.

Light laughter tumbled from my mouth, though I kept my voice firm. “Tell her to tell him goodnight.”

She poked out her bottom lip. She turned her sad face to Gage. He pouted right back.

The two of them were wrapped up in their own little language, so sweet, especially when he drew a little heart on the window.

It panged in mine.

Juni giggled and blushed and brought her shoulders up to her cheeks. “I loves him the mostest, Mommy!”

“It looks like he loves you, too.”

I sent a wave to the little boy then shut the curtains. Cutting off her view was the only thing that finally coaxed Juni to her feet.

We moved into the short hall where the second bathroom was across from Mimi’s room. We could hear her snoring from behind her door.

Juni scrunched up her nose and held her laughter, her words a secreted whisper, “Mimi is a snorin’ up a morin’.”

“A morin’, huh?” I quirked a brow.

Juniper nodded with a blink. “The worst kind.”

I touched her chin. Affection pulsed at my chest.

Powerful.

Unending.

A gift that’d made it out of the ash.

My one purpose.

“It’s time for you to get to snorin’,” I told her.

“Oh, fine, okay,” she grumbled.

She went to the sink and brushed her teeth, and then she was running back for the living room. “Story times!”

She dove onto the makeshift bed we’d made on the floor, and I climbed down beside her as she grabbed the book we’d been reading together, the first in The Boxcar Children. Sitting on the mat, I pulled her onto my lap where she sat facing out. Her little heartbeats thumped against my chest as I went to the page we had marked.

I began to read.

Soft and slow.

Changing my voice the way Juni demanded I do.

She rocked her head back to look up at me, those eyes full of their belief. “I’d live in a boxcar with you and goes on every adventure you wants to take, Mommy, but I likes it here the best.”

My spirit squeezed in sorrow.

Each time we’d moved from one place to another, I’d amped it up, told her we were going on a great adventure, and tried to make it seem as if it were exciting rather than a horrible reality of our lives.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to her forehead. Inhaled her sweet scent. The truth that the last four years of our lives had affected her in a way that I doubted I could fully understand. Prohibited her from planting roots. From feeling stable and safe.

I whispered at her skin, “I like it here best, too, Juni Bee, so much.”

“But we’ll be just fine just as long as we’re togethers, right? Wherever we go?”

“Wherever we go,” I promised.

A playful grin stole over her lips. “Even Antarctica?”

I tickled her. “Even Antarctica.”

She squealed and laughed, and I nuzzled my face into her cheek. Loved and made a million silent promises.

Wherever we go.

Resolution pulsed through my chest. I was determined it would never again come to that.

I would never let paranoia take me over.

I would never again frantically pack the empty suitcase that now sat against the wall.

We’d never again drive away in the middle of the night from a place that had barely become home.

Twenty minutes later, Juniper was sound asleep, and she had her cheek pressed to her pillow and her black hair was spread around her precious, cherub face. I’d dimmed the lights so she could sleep, and night danced and played across the walls as I brushed my fingers through her hair.

Softly.

Methodically.

Quietly giving her the peace that we’d lacked.

Praying it would stand.

That we no longer had to be afraid.

A frown took hold when my phone vibrated from where I’d left it on the couch. Precisely three people had my number.

Mimi, Darius, and now Eden.

I dipped in and pressed a gentle kiss to Juni’s temple before I stood, my eyes narrowing as I picked up my phone and read the words that had come through on a text.

Strike that.

Four.

Unknown

I have good news and I have bad news, darlin’.

My heart fluttered in my chest. Way too light and excited when I saw the words, though I read them like I was hearing the deep scrape of his voice. Kind of the way I changed the tone for Juni when I read to her. But the really reckless part of me didn’t want this story to end quite so innocently.

Crawling onto the couch and crisscrossing my legs, I tapped out a message.

Who is this?

I pressed send. Of course, I knew who it was. Don’t judge a girl for playing coy. I didn’t know how he’d bribed Darius for my number, but I was sure this bad boy had his ways.

Jud

What, you don’t recognize me? Your knight in shining armor?

I was gnawing at my lip and fighting a grin when I typed out a response.

Except he doesn’t ride in on a horse and he’s dressed all in black?

Jud

That’d be him.

I don’t know about knight…he seemed awful…dangerous.

Why I was playing this game, I didn’t know. All I knew was my heart felt like it was on an unexpected joyride as my fingers flew across the screen. Hungry for his response.

Jud

You have no idea.

Shivers raced across my skin. I should take them as a warning. Not as a slow slide of need that slipped like silk into my bloodstream. I forced myself to get it together before I let this go in a direction I couldn’t let it.

How bad is it?

Jud

Timing belt. There was some engine damage.

Shit. I glanced at Juni where she slept. Worry fisted in my chest. I went back to my phone.

And the good news?

I wondered if he could hear the sarcasm in my question. If he could feel the edge of hysteria that infiltrated my consciousness. Because I was pretty sure there wasn’t anything good about this news.

Jud

Didn’t take out the engine block so it saves the big bucks. And you’ve got me.

I warred, not knowing how to respond, how to tell him I basically had nothing. That even if it was saving the big bucks, I had no bucks.

The only thing currently in my wallet was a hundred-dollar bill I’d gotten for a ring that should have been worth at least a thousand. One I had no intention of going back to claim because I was set on saving to buy a bike with training wheels for my daughter.

A little voice called in the back of my head, Make good choices.

My attention was back on my daughter. How was that not her? Besides, there was no way that hundred bucks would make a dent in covering the car.

I guessed I’d been stewing for too long because another message buzzed through, and I wondered if he’d been contemplating, too, because I could feel the shift. The change in his tenor.

Jud

I have you, Salem.

My ribs clamped around my aching heart.

Okay, this didn’t feel so careful . The way this man made me want to slip out from behind the walls I’d built. Where it was fortified and guarded and safe.

Knowing I couldn’t go there, I forced myself to respond.

I’m not your responsibility.

Jud

Isn’t that what friends are for?

My brow curled.

Is that what we are? Friends?

Jud

If that’s the only way you’ll have me.

You don’t even know me. And who said I was going to have you?

There I went, digging myself in. Deeper and deeper. But I didn’t know how to stop the attraction that pulled and begged.

He wasn’t even here, and my heart was beating out of time. A frenzy lighting in my veins, hands shaking as I sat there waiting for his next message to come through.

Jud

See, there’s this thing where strangers who meet get to know each other…

I rolled my eyes and fought an affected laugh, caught up in the tease that pinged in his text.

Is that so?

Jud

Uh-huh. Was thinking you and I might do a bit of that.

Giddiness swept through my being. Lifting high then sweeping low. A beat of exhilaration before I had to come back down to reality.

I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jud. My brother works for you.

And this man didn’t want my mess, and I couldn’t afford to form any attachments. Couldn’t afford to care.

My heart clutched in dread.

What if we had to pack up and leave again?

My gaze was back on my sleeping Juni Bee. On her precious, precious form.

Agony slayed me at the thought.

Yes, I wanted to stay. Prayed we could. But I needed to do it one step at a time.

On top of that? Jud didn’t know the first thing about me. Didn’t know my responsibilities. My greatest, most beautiful obligation.

Nor did he know my deepest, darkest pain.

Jud

That’s right. Your brother works for me.

I felt the ferocity in his tone. The fact he didn’t give a crap. This man took what he wanted, and he made no apologies.

And there I was, the fool who wanted to tell him I wanted it, too. To explore this attraction. An attraction so intense it couldn’t be faked.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t.

I forced myself to type out a reasonable response.

I don’t have the money to fix my car right now. I’ll see if Darius can have it towed back to the house.

He must have felt my blow off because it took him a minute to respond.

Jud

Already told you, I have you. Already ordered the parts.

Crap. I needed to argue. Tell him it wasn’t his duty. Stop this from going any farther than it already had. Still, a bout of worry climbed through my mind, digging holes in my refusal.

While I didn’t want to be in debt to him, I needed a car.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but okay. I really need a car. I will find a way to pay you back.

Jud

Not necessary.

I warred with what I wanted to say before I let my fingers fly free.

Thank you, Jud, for being my savior.

My wicked, gorgeous savior.

Jud

My pleasure, darlin’.

I could almost see his smirk from across the space. That intimidating, hulking body standing in his kitchen. Barefooted and bare chested.

My breath hitched.

The memory inundating. The way it felt beneath that decadent stare. So sexy, he’d made my knees weak.

Jud

How about a pic of that gorgeous face to save with your number?

Disbelief slid into my grin. This guy was something.

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Jud

I think it’s a great idea. I’ll even return the favor.

Could feel the mischief woven in the words. Temptation and a trap.

Shit. This man was trying to do me in. I hesitated, my tongue stroking my suddenly dried lips. In an instant, I was parched. I glanced around the darkened room like I was doing something criminal, then I tapped out the message and pushed send before I could think better of it.

Fine. But if you send a dick pic, I will stab you.

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw his response.

Jud

Don’t worry, darlin’. You see my cock for the first time? It’s going to be face-to-face.

Desire blistered through my body. Flames lapping at my flesh as I thought of what that might be like. I swore, I was burning up.

I blamed it on going without for so long.

Blamed it on my fear of being seen.

On my fear of being touched.

And right then? In the sanctuary of the words of this man?

It was the only thing I wanted.

To be touched.

To be seen.

To feel real .

I was wearing a light-blue satin pajama set. The bottoms were shorts and the top was a short-sleeved button up. I opened my phone camera and saw my face in the reflection. My eyes were dilated, and my cheeks were flushed.

All bad news.

Still, like a fool, I leaned back against the arm of the couch, let my hair fall around my shoulders, unbuttoned the first button of my sleep shirt, and lifted the camera high.

I snapped a shot that captured my face, my shoulders, the skin of my chest, the barest brush of cleavage showing through.

In the shadows, it appeared…sexy.

Or maybe it was just the way Jud Lawson made me feel.

Real since the moment my spirit had gone dim.

With trembling hands, I pressed send before I thought better of it. Before I let myself contemplate the dangerous game I was playing.

Jud

Fuckin’ gorgeous. Thought I had to be dreaming when I saw you in the rain.

Another message came in right behind the last.

Jud

Tell me one thing, darlin’. Did you feel it? Did you feel it last night?

He didn’t even have to clarify what it was. Not when it’d been so vibrant and bold. The crash of energy. The crackle of attraction.

The shaking in my hands intensified, and I knew I should lie, tell him goodbye, that I couldn’t keep up with whatever we were doing.

It was only going to hurt in the end.

But what did I do? I typed out the confession on a needy breath.

Yes.

A second later, a picture popped through.

And that needy breath was punching from my lungs. Jud was there as promised, lying back in this massive bed fit for a king.

Black hair long on top and cropped at the sides, a thick black beard, those eyes piercing me in the night. Every rugged edge of his face was on display, those plush lips curved into a smirk.

He’d sent the same angle as I’d sent him.

Just enough of his chest showed to make lust fist in my stomach. It overflowed like the rush of hot lava where it tingled my thighs and pulsed my center.

My teeth clenched, my eyes devouring every inch. There wasn’t enough light to make out the obscured tattoos that covered him whole, though I could tell the images were as mysterious as the man. Certainly drawn by the same artist who’d painted the pictures on his walls.

A dichotomy of demonic and angelic.

A war of dark and light.

A clash of evil and hope.

A fresh rush of desire streaked through my veins when another text buzzed through.

Jud

What I wouldn’t do to that tight little body…

And that was it, all I could take. I was on my feet and tiptoeing to that little bathroom. I shut the door and locked it behind me. Gasping, I leaned against the wood.

Darius was right.

I didn’t have enough privacy.

Not when I was feeling things I hadn’t felt in four long years.

Well, probably in ever.

It was something the trauma had turned sour, ugly and vile, that now boiled like bliss in my blood.

I set the phone on the counter and pressed my hands on either side of it, dropped my head as I tried to get a cleansing breath.

But I might as well have been breathing him in with the way I was assaulted with the memory of the man.

His aura filled my senses.

Citrus and cinnamon and spice.

I raised my gaze and saw my reflection through the shadows in the mirror. The room dark except for the nightlight plugged into the wall to the side of the sink.

My pupils were wide, my skin flushed, my tongue dried.

I wavered, teetered, torn between refusing the visions and giving into the fantasy.

To this feeling that lapped and burned and begged.

I spread my hand over my trembling belly, no longer recognizing myself.

Jud had ignited something long gone.

Flames and sparks and fire.

I should run from them. Fear them.

I slipped lower, whimpering when my hand slid beneath my underwear, where I found myself wet and throbbing. My fingertips brushed over my clit.

That fire spread.

I bit my lip to suppress a moan, and I squeezed my eyes closed and welcomed the visions of the man.

His scent.

His eyes.

That body.

That mouth.

I pretended it was him kneeling in front of me when I pressed my fingers into my pussy. Pretended it was his tongue that stroked. His mouth that whispered and sent my entire body quaking in ecstasy.

I gasped as I came, shocked, stunned, the ground slipping out from under me.

My eyes flew open when my phone buzzed on the counter and another message blipped through.

Jud

You touching yourself, Sweet Enchantress? Because you can be sure that I am.

VOTE

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