“Julia?”
I moan from Jaxson’s urgent whisper, “Again? Lord, man don’t you ever sleep?” I mumble teasing.
“Julia, get up now.”
I shoot up at his tone, realizing something’s wrong. Looking over I see Jaxson out of bed throwing on his jeans. I glance at the clock and see it’s only 3 am.
“What is it, what’s wrong?”
“Someone’s in the house.”
“What!?” I screech in fear.
He reaches over and covers my mouth, “Listen baby, everything’s going to be alright, but you need to be quiet okay?”
I nod my head. Removing his hand from my mouth he reaches under the bed and pulls out a gun. I gasp in shock, “Oh my god, you have a gun? In my house?” I whisper harshly.
He looks at me like I’m stupid, “Of course I have a fucking gun.”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he does, but I deserve to know if I’m sleeping over top of one for god-sakes. I climb out of bed quietly and follow behind Jaxson to my bedroom window that looks out over my front yard. Suddenly a clanging noise comes from downstairs. I jump, startled, and grab Jaxson’s arm.
He hands me his cell phone, “Call Cooper, tell him what’s going on and to bring back up.”
“What? Where are you going?”
“I’m going down to find out who the fuck is in here.”
I grab on to the belt loops on his jeans, “No! Jaxson please just stay here and wait with me. We have no idea who’s down there or how many,” my voice starts to shake with fear.
He cups the back of my head, “I can handle myself Julia, I promise. But I need you to be strong right now and do what I ask okay?” He tries handing me the gun and I throw my hands up.
“No! No way! I have no idea how to use a gun Jaxson. I hate guns.”
“Listen to me!” he whispers harshly, “the safety is off, all you do is point and pull the trigger. You probably won’t need it, but just in case.” He places the gun in my hand, forcing me to take it. “I want you to stay right here,” he pushes me back into a corner between the wall and my nightstand. “Call Cooper and don’t fucking move from this spot. If anyone comes in that door you shoot first and ask questions later, got it?” He pulls another gun out from behind him, for himself.
When the hell he did put that there?
“What if it’s you?”
“I’ll make sure you know if it’s me.”
The sound of a door slamming comes from downstairs. Jaxson’s head snaps to the window, “Fuck! Call Cooper now!” he yells and takes off, running out of the room.
Sitting up I look out the window and see someone in all black running into the woods. A second later Jaxson is running out of the house, barefoot with no shirt on, into the woods after them. “Oh my god, oh my god.”
With shaking hands I struggle to dial Cooper. He picks up after the second ring, “Do you have any idea what time it is asshole?”
“Cooper?” my voice is thick with tears, shaking from fear.
“Julia? What’s wrong?”
“Cooper you need to come quick. Someone broke into my house. Jaxson took off running after them, he has a gun and…”
“Okay calm down. I’m on my way, stay on the phone with me alright?”
Tears stream down my face as I nod my head.
“Julia you still there?”
“Yes sorry, I’m here. Just please hurry. I’m scared for Jaxson, he went running out into the woods after the person.”
“Of course he fucking did. I’m heading to my car now I’ll be arriving in a few minutes can you…”
Cooper’s voice fades out when I hear a squeaking noise come from downstairs, or is that a whimper?
“Shhh!” I tell Cooper to be quiet, which he does. Listening more closely I get up and walk to my bedroom door, hearing the noise more profoundly.
“There’s a noise coming from downstairs, it sounds like whimpering. I think someone’s hurt Cooper. I should check.”
“No! Julia just stay where you are. I’m almost there.”
“It could be a matter of life and death,” leaving my room I slowly start down the stairs.
“Goddamn it Julia, are you fucking listening to me?”
“Shhh! I’ll keep you on the phone.”
“Oh for fuck-sakes!”
Once reaching the bottom of the stairs, I realize the noise is coming from the kitchen.
“It’s coming from the kitchen,” I whisper shakily to Cooper.
“Jesus Julia, will you please just fucking go back upstairs!?”
I continue to the kitchen, the noise getting louder and louder. I realize now that it isn’t a whimper but a squeaking sound. My heart is pounding so loud I’m surprised I can hear anything else but it’s thundering beat. Walking on shaking legs I enter the kitchen. And what I see has my heart stopping and bile rising in my throat. The phone slips from my hand as I scream louder than I ever have in my entire life.
Gun in hand, I race down the stairs. I see the guy running into the woods just as I make it out the front door. Instincts kicking in, I speed up, keeping him in my sites. Gravel bites into the bottom of my feet but I’m too jacked up with adrenaline to feel it.
“Jennings is that you, you mother fucker?” I yell heading into the woods after him. At first I thought maybe it was that asshole Vince from tonight. But this guy isn’t big enough to be him.
My heart pumps faster, lungs working harder, as I gain on him.
You’re fucking mine you son of a bitch.
Suddenly a piercing scream tears through the night, stopping me in my tracks. I look back towards the house, realizing it’s Julia. “Fuck!” Without a second thought I take back off towards the house, running faster than I thought myself possible. “Julia!?” I scream as I reach the front door.
I’m about to run upstairs until I see her legs in the kitchen entryway. I run towards her, finding her on her knees with the gun beside her, retching and crying as she throws up. I’m on my knees beside her in a flash, “Julia baby, what’s wrong?”
Something catches the corner of my eye, “Jesus fucking Christ!” A dead, gutted coyote hangs from her ceiling on a chain above the kitchen table. Half the kitchen is a fucking blood bath from its insides, including the kitchen window where blood spells out, ‘You’re next whore’.
Mother Fucker!
Turning back I pick up Julia’s shaking body, “Okay baby, it’s okay I got you.” Just as I’m heading out of the kitchen Cooper comes bolting through the door, almost throwing it off its hinges as he slams into it.
“Jesus Christ! Is she alright? Goddamn it Julia, you scared the fuck out of me. What happened?”
I throw my head towards the kitchen, indicating for him to go look, as I carry Julia to the family room couch. Positioning her on my lap, she cradles her body into me. My arms vibrate from her shaking as I hold her.
“Ho-ly fuck!” I hear Cooper from the kitchen. He walks back out, with his jaw clenched. He looks around, “I guess you didn’t catch the son of a bitch.”
I shake my head, “I almost fucking had him but then I heard her scream and left him in the woods to run back here.”
A couple of deputies come running in, “Sheriff?”
Coop points outside, “Get out in the woods across the way and search for him. He’s probably long gone now, but look for anything that can link us to him.” Cooper looks at me, “What was he wearing?”
“All black with a hood over his head. Medium build about 6 feet tall. He’s armed with at least a knife,” I say, thinking about the fucking gutted animal in the kitchen.
The deputies run out following Cooper’s orders.
Just the thought of how close I was to catching the fucker pisses me off. I grab Julia’s face to yell at her and ask why she didn’t stay where the fuck I told her to. But when I look into her pale tear-streaked face, her body still shaking, my anger evaporates, “Why did you come down here?”
“I, I’m sorry. I thought someone was, was hurt,” she covers her ears, “oh god make that sound stop, please!”
I realize she’s talking about the squeaking that’s coming from the chain as the heavy animal sways from the ceiling.
“I’m sorry Julia, but we can’t touch anything in here until the forensics team comes in.”
I hold her head to my chest, covering her hand which is over her ear. Leaning down I kiss the top of her head, “It’s alright. We’re going to pack a bag and stay somewhere in town for tonight.”
“Why don’t you guys come stay at my place. You can sleep in the spare room. Speaking of which, I should probably call Kayla, she knew I was coming here. She was out of her mind when I flew out of the house without a word.”
Right when Cooper takes out his phone Cade and Sawyer come running through the open front door.
“What the fuck happened?” Sawyer asks.
“How the hell did you know?” Cooper asks him.
“Because your girl just called me freaking out, asking if I was with you guys and if I knew whether Julia was okay or not.”
“Jesus, that woman is fucking impatient.”
Cooper pulls out his phone and walks out to call Kayla. Sawyer looks at me, “What the hell happened?”
I nod towards the kitchen. Both he and Cade walk in, “What-the-ever-living fuck?” I hear Cade say.
Walking out they both look at me with fury raging in their eyes, “So who’s ass are we killing?” Sawyer asks.
I look down at Julia and shake my head. Not wanting to talk about it right now in front of her, he nods in understanding. I pull Julia’s hand away from her ears, “Let’s go pack a bag. We’re going to go sleep at Cooper’s and Kayla’s.” She nods against my chest.
Picking her up I start to carry her upstairs, knowing she’s shaking too much to walk. Stopping halfway up I look back to Sawyer and Cade, “Meet us at Cooper’s.”
They nod and head out the door. Rage rushes through my veins as I finish carrying Julia up the stairs. That mother fucker is going to pay for this.
Climbing out of the truck I walk up the front steps to Kayla’s and Cooper’s house, feeling cold and detached from my body. Kayla’s there waiting for me, holding open the door.
“Come here,” taking my bag she hugs me then ushers me into the house. Jaxson stays close behind, rage rolling off of him in waves.
As we bypass the kitchen towards the spare room I see Sawyer and Cade sitting at the table they too, look angry as hell. They both nod at me, I give them a small smile, or at least I tried, not sure if I succeeded.
Kayla puts my bag on the bed once we enter the room then turns to me, “Can I get you something? Some tea maybe?”
I smile, “Ya, tea would be great, thank you.”
We walk back into the kitchen and the guys’ conversation stops abruptly. “Come here,” Jaxson says holding out his arms. I walk into them and he pulls me down on his lap pressing a soft kiss to my neck. It’s the first thing I’ve felt since seeing… I squeeze my eyes shut.
Oh that poor animal.
The front door slams, pulling me from my tortured thoughts. Cooper comes walking in looking tired and stressed, “Forensics are going through things now,” he looks directly at me, “Julia who has a key to your house?”
I shake my head confused as to why he’s asking, “Just Kayla.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes not even Grams has one.”
He looks over to Kayla, “Go look at your keys to see if the key is still there.”
“What’s this about?” Jaxson asks.
“No one broke into that house. They got into it with a key, there’s no way they even picked the lock.”
What?
Kayla comes walking back in with her keys, “Ya, it’s still here.”
Cooper lets out a frustrated breath. Silence and tension reins in the kitchen while everyone ponders on their thoughts.
“Do you think it was that prick from earlier tonight?” Sawyer asks.
“Vince?” Kayla and I say at the same time.
“Why not? The guy was pissed getting tossed out like he did, plus gave him an opportunity to swipe a key from somewhere.”
“It wasn’t him,” Jaxson says cutting Sawyer off, “the guy I ran after wasn’t big enough. Besides, I already know who it was.”
Wyatt!
A chill races up my spine, making me shiver. Kayla walks over handing me my tea. I wrap both my hands around the mug and bring it close to my mouth, trying to soak in the warmth from the steam.
“I don’t know Jaxson, I know what you’re thinking but things have been quiet for weeks. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Why start trouble now?” Cooper’s sensible thoughts make me remember the phone calls.
I clear my throat nervously, “Um, well, something out of the ordinary has been going on.” Jaxson tenses and everyone’s gaze snaps to me. I put my mug down and turn to face Jaxson, “I’m sorry, I meant to tell you. I was going to tonight, but then everything happened with Vince and then after everyone left we… well you know.”
His hands tighten on my hips, “Tell me what?”
“I’ve been getting phone calls all week…”
“Jesus Christ Julia! All fucking week and you’re telling me now?”
“I thought at first it was just wrong numbers or kids. At first no one said anything, they would just hang up. But the last two times I could hear someone breathing heavily…”
“For fuck sakes!” I don’t blame him for being mad but I’m also not in the mood to hear it. I go to get up but he keeps a tight grip on me.
“Let go! I’m not in the mood to listen to you yell at me right now.”
He takes a deep breath and loosens his grip, “I’m sorry, I’ll calm down.”
Feeling exhausted I sit back and relax into him.
“How many did you get?” Cooper asks me now.
“About one a day, all on my land line, not cell phone.”
Cooper looks to Jaxson, “I’ll go question him tomorrow.”
Jaxson gets angry again, “Come on Cooper, it’s not like the asshole is going to admit to it. He went too far this time, I’m dealing with him myself.”
“No you’re fucking not! I’m serious Jaxson. Don’t you go doing something stupid and make me have to arrest my best fucking friend.”
Jaxson’s steely gaze trains on Cooper, the air becoming heavy with tension and anger. I rest my forehead against Jaxson’s and cup his face, “He’s right Jax, please just let Cooper handle it.”
He doesn’t say anything and I know he’s too angry right now to hear anyone. Letting out a heavy breath I kiss his cheek before I get up, “I’m going to go to bed.” I walk over and hug Cooper, “Thanks Cooper for everything.”
He hugs me tightly and kisses the top of my head, “You’re welcome. And next time woman, you better goddamn listen to me when I tell you to stay where the hell you are.”
“I will, I’m sorry. I thought someone was hurt. I wish I would have listened to you now.”
I wave over to Sawyer and Cade before walking out of the kitchen, Kayla follows behind me.
“Do you want company?”
I smile, “Sure, we haven’t had a sleepover since high school.”
She laughs and follows me into bed. We both curl up on our sides and face each other. She reaches over and grabs my hand, “You going to be alright?”
“Ya, I just wish I could erase the image I have in my head. It was terrible Kayla.”
Her eyes turn sympathetic, “I know Jules. Don’t worry. Coop will make the son of a bitch pay.”
I nod and soon exhaustion settles heavily over my body, dragging me down into a restless slumber.
After arguing with Cooper for a long while I decide to give in and let him handle things. For now. The powerful rage that had rushed through my body earlier now settles in a low simmer, always there but controllable. Not wanting to be away from Julia for another second, I get up and decide to head to bed.
Cade and Sawyer rise at the same time, “Call us if you need help. You know we have your back,” Sawyer says.
I nod, “I know, thanks. Also… I decided not to do the mission. Even before this went down, but especially now.”
Sawyer grins, “Good decision. I’ll deal with the Admiral.”
“Thanks.” I walk out of the kitchen and stop short at the entrance to the spare room. My lips twitch, “Hey Coop, come get your woman out of my spot.”
All 3 guys walk over and peek in. Kayla and Julia are curled on their sides facing one another, their hands linked in between their bodies.
Sawyer chuckles, “Aw and look they’re both wearing your guys’ shirts. Someone take a picture.”
Chuckling, Cooper walks over and lifts Kayla in his arms.
“No Coop, not with Jaxson and Julia here,” she mumbles in her sleep.
The three of us burst into muffled laughter. Smiling, Coop looks over at us and shrugs, “What can I say, I’m always on her mind.”
Once Coop walks out, I close the door and start shredding my clothes.
Julia awakens and sits up groggily, “Jax?”
“Ya baby.”
“Did you and Cooper work everything out?”
“Ya.”
Crawling into bed I pull her to me, needing to feel her against me. Jesus, when I heard her scream rip through the night like that… shaking my head I let out a tortured breath and try not to think about it. She buries her face in my neck planting soft kisses along my throat and jaw. Lust begins to mix with the rage in my blood. Groaning, I palm her lush ass with both of my hands.
She sits up swiftly, shredding my shirt off her body, bringing my dick to life with a jolt.
“Jaxson, I need you. I need to feel you right now,” her voice is frantic and shaky, “I can’t seem to get warm. Or get that poor animal out of my head…”
I flip her over, cutting her off before she completely loses it. With both of us on our sides now I bring her against me; her back to my front. Her sweet ass cradling my hard dick. I take her top leg and place it back over mine. Grabbing the side of her panties I shred them from her body.
She moans, “Oh God, as hot as that is, you really need to stop doing that or I’m not going to have any panties left.”
That’s just fucking fine with me, she doesn’t need to wear them.
“It’s faster and right now I don’t have the patience to take them off you any other way.”
Our groans mingle when I slide my hand between her legs, feeling her fucking soaked and ready. “Always so wet and ready for me,” I whisper, planting soft kisses along her shoulder and neck.
“Always for you.”
Groaning again, I pull my underwear down just enough to free my cock. Knowing how wet and ready she is I slam up inside of her from behind.
She gasps, “God yes, I need you.”
“You have me baby, all of me.” I kiss the side of her face, her ear, anything my lips can reach and keep a steady pace as I fuck her from behind. Sweat builds between our entwined bodies, my hands palming her breasts, pinching and tormenting her nipples. I fuck her as hard and deep as I can get, not knowing where I end and she starts, wanting her to feel nothing but me.
“Feel me baby, only me.”
“I do, that’s all I feel,” she breathes out heavily, slamming her ass back against me. My hand goes to her hip, fingers digging into the soft flesh while I hammer up into her. Jesus! Sweet hot fucking perfection. Reaching in front I slide my finger through her wet slit, finding her swollen nub, her gasps and moans filling the air.
A low growl erupts from my throat when her pussy starts to flutter around my cock. I speed up my rhythm, both with my dick and hand, hoping she finds release soon. I’m not so sure how much longer I can hold off.
She whimpers my name, “Jaxson,” and that was the only warning I got before her muscles gripped my cock like a tight vise, sucking it greedily in its hot depth.
“Fuck me. Julia baby, I swear your pussy was made for my cock,” I let out a long groan and still as I spill myself inside of her.
Collapsing down from my raised arm I stay inside of her while trying to catch my breath. Not in any hurry to leave her body I pull her back snug against me, kissing her neck, “I’ll take care of this Julia, I promise.”
And I will. I’ll give Cooper his time, but after that, the mother fucker is mine.
She kisses the palm of my hand. “I love you Jaxson,” she says before drifting off to sleep. I swallow thickly and kiss the back of her neck, fucking hating myself for not saying it back.