Backlash
But Amelia’s dreams had not been sweet. In the middle of the night, JC had been awakened by the sound of her fearful whimpers and her struggling against an unseen foe. When he tried to hold her to comfort her. She shoved at him, trying to escape.
“Please, don’t hurt me!” she begged in her sleep.
“Ami!” JC called her from her dream state. “Ami, it’s Josh. Wake up, baby!”
His voice soothed her and she went lax in his arms. Opening her eyes, she blinked several times before finally focusing on his concerned face. “Oh, God!” she sobbed and buried her face against his neck.
“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you,” he crooned. “That bastard won’t even so much as look at you again. I promise.” Or Carter was a dead man. JC would not be stopped next time.
“I thought it was over,” Amelia whispered helplessly. “The nightmares…the fears…I haven’t felt like this since you…”
Guilt revisited him. He should have protected her. It had been his responsibility to keep her safe – and he had failed badly.
JC froze, stunned when he felt her lips nibbling and sucking at his throat. It was something she normally did to entice him. Surely she couldn’t want…Then one small hand worked its way under his shirt to caress his ribs and stomach. “Ami…”
“Let’s make love, Josh,” she suggested quietly. “I need you.”
“But, baby—“
The hand on his ribs dropped below the waistband of his pajama bottoms. She stroked him exactly the way he liked it.
“Oh, God!” he grounded out, moving her hand away from his now straining member.
Amelia’s kiss was seduction itself: teasing, tempting, hungry and irresistible.
Tearing his mouth away from hers, he insisted, “You can’t want this, Ami.”
“Why not? Nothing makes me feel as good as when we are loving each other.”
It made an odd sort of sense, JC supposed. It had been Carter’s abuse that had caused the return of her frightening dreams. His force and domination had scarred her psyche. But JC and his baby girl didn’t play it that way – love was a partnership. And he certainly didn’t mind when she took the lead!
Amelia urged her gentle lover to lie back and moved on top of him. “Don’t tell me ‘no’, baby,” she murmured as she slid her hands beneath his shirt, bunching the fabric at his armpits, baring his torso for her soft kisses.
This was what she was after, he decided. She wanted to control what happened, have it the way she wanted it. “I never do a very good job of telling you ‘no’, Ami,” he mused, especially when she had seduction on her mind.
“I was hoping you would say that.”
“You knew I would say that.” He reached loving hands out to smooth her hair. “What do you want me to do next?”
“Take off your shirt?”
“Pants?”
“Naked is good.”
JC sat up to remove his clothes. Leaning against the headboard, he was arrested by the sight of her slowly removing her gown, enrapturing him that much more. He loved to kiss every silken inch of her sweet, little body, but this had to be her game, her rules – he could only follow.
Amelia noticed how he was positioned and gave him a sly smile. “That works for me.” She straddled his thighs, rubbing herself intimately against him, making him moan.
“Now what?”
She urged his head down, luring his mouth to her neck. “I want your mouth on my skin, baby.”
“Can I touch you?”
“Oh, yes!”
JC’s lips nibbled at that sweet spot beneath her ear that made her melt as his big hands caressed her back, her ribs – and finally, her breasts.
“Oh, yes, Josh, there too!” she commanded softly, guiding his head to her breasts. She fairly purred with delight as he suckled each hardened bud in turn. “Oh, baby…”
“I love the taste of you, Ami,” he told her as he kissed his way back to her mouth. “You’re so sweet and delicious.”
Amelia hadn’t known a lover could be so tender and sensitive while being strong at the same time. JC was always what she needed. He knew what she had to have and responded as he always had – with calm assurance and caring. Tears of gratitude welled in her eyes and spilled to her cheeks.
“Hey, what’s this about?” He wiped at the tears, then placed a soothing kiss on each eyelid.
“You’re more than I deserve,” she whispered.
“I say that about you all the time, sweet thing.”
”I don’t know how I could have thought I loved a bully.”
“You were damned young.”
She smiled and stroked his hair. “I’m just glad I was smart enough to know the real thing when it came along – even though we both fought it.”
“I’m glad that’s one battle I lost.” He had an erection the size of an electric pole that would probably go unrelieved since Amelia was now comforted, but at least, she was calm and seemingly feeling secure. “Let’s go back to sleep, Ami.”
She shook her head, her long, silken hair whispering around his swollen shaft, causing an unwilling groan from him. “You can’t sleep like that.”
“I’ve done it before.”
“No, Josh, lay me down and love me,” she told him softly.
“You sure?”
“That I want you inside me? Most definitely.”
“Me on top?”
Amelia laid down, reaching her arms to him. “Yes.”
JC came to her, entering her tight, hot body slowly.
“Mmm…This is one of my favorite parts,” she purred, a satisfied smile coming to her lips. “The first few moments when you fill me.”
He held himself still, enjoying the completeness of their joining. “I know what you mean – we fit so good.”
“I love you.” She lifted her head to place a kiss over his heart.
All the love and tenderness and protectiveness he possessed for her shone in his eyes. “I love you, my brown-eyed baby.”
“Then make love to me like it’ll never be enough.”
And JC did. Slow, bone-melting pleasure built until waves of perfect bliss washed over them, leaving them sated and secure in each other’s arms.
“He hurt Amelia again,” JC announced at breakfast the next morning.
Outraged, Justin cried,” “What!”
“He left the imprint of his palm and fingers in bruises.”
“Damn! I want a piece of him right now.”
“No more than I do,” JC assured him. “She was crying her eyes out, she was so scared and upset. Then I saw her arm – I want to beat the shit out of him.”
“Wonder if they’re still here?” Lance came into the conversation.
“All I know is he’d better not cross my path – and remind me to tell our guys that Amelia is not to be left alone under any circumstances.”
“Hi, guys!” Amelia joined then. She wore her usual tee-shirt. She knew JC would tell the others, so there was little use in trying to hide her arm. Coming up behind JC, she put her arms around his neck and rested her chin on the top of his head.
“Mornin’, baby,” JC murmured.
Lance touched the ugly purple smudges on her upper arm. “I wanna kill him.”
“Get in line,” she said breezily. “It forms behind JC.”
“You got that right,” JC grumbled.
“And Justin,” Amelia added.
“Yes, ma’am,” Justin affirmed.
“Don’t do it. I love you all too much to be visiting you in prison.” She reached over and gently chucked Lance under the chin. “And you’d end up somebody’s little mama, green-eyes.” Lance was far too pretty to be in jail.
Lance blushed at her comment.
“He’s just not worth the worry, guys.”
“All I can say is if he ever so much as looks at you again, I’ll call him out,” Justin muttered.
“Good grief! I feel like Maria caught between the Sharks and the Jets!” She compared herself to the girl in one of her favorite musicals: Westside Story. It was the play that inspired her to dance.
“Maria was in love with a guy from the opposing gang,” JC reminded her.
“Nit-picker!” she laughed, pulling away.
“Where do you think you’re going?” JC demanded.
“I’m going to go get some breakfast.”
He shook his head solemnly. “What do you want? I’ll call for it.”
“No. I am not going to be made a prisoner. I’m going to go about my usual routine.”
JC rose. “Can’t you for once do as I say?”
Amelia turned back, her mouth open in shock. He had never spoken to her in that manner! Who did he think he was?…
Chris saw what was coming and averted a shouting match. “They’re in this hotel,” he told her. “That’s what JC isn’t saying.”
She snapped her mouth shut on the angry words she had been ready to fling at JC and swallowed them. He was only trying to protect her without frightening her. She should have known. “Oh.”
JC went to her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. “You can eat here or eat in our room.”
“I’m not very hungry,” she whispered.
For all her bluster, they all realized she was frightened of another encounter.
“I’m taking Amelia to our room,” JC told them. “I’ll catch you later.”
There was a general mumble of assurances as the couple left.
Justin watched angrily. It was as if someone had shrunken the already tiny Amelia. She suddenly seemed so small and helpless. He wasn’t comfortable with that. “Damn, I want to get my hands on Carter!”
Lance and Justin didn’t agree on much; but being southern gentlemen born and bred, they agreed on this. “No more than I do,” Lance growled.
“JC is letting it go for Amelia’s sake,” Joey reminded them. “You should, too.”
“Did you see her arm?” Lance demanded.
“We all did,” Chris assured him. “But for Amelia, we have to ignore it.”
“All I can say is I better not ever meet up with that boy in a dark alley or he’s history,” Justin muttered.
The night of the incident was not a precursor of the days to come. Amelia had retreated into herself. Only vaguely did she resemble the girl they knew. She never wanted JC far from her sight, using him as a security blanket in the presence of others. If someone raised his voice, even in teasing, she scurried to JC’s side. Realizing this, he was with her whenever possible.
But when they were alone, she was quiet and did not readily seek him out for the kisses and cuddles they usually shared. In bed, they slept. If they did make love, it was only after a nightmare, when his body in hers seemed the only comfort he could give.
“Dammit, Joey!” Justin barked when a miscounted step landed the two in the same spot at the same time.
“If you’d quit hoggin’ the stage—“ Joey retorted.
JC watched as Amelia paled and had his arms out to her before she reached them.
“Knock it off, guys,” Chris growled, subtly shifting his eyes to Amelia.
Justin was quickly chastened.
Joey looked apologetic. “We’ll have to stay out of each other’s space.”
Justin went to Amelia. It bothered him that his feisty friend had turned into a cringing mouse – all because of another man’s anger issues. “Sorry, midget. I’ll try to control my mouth, okay?”
Looking up from JC’s chest, she nodded.
“Baby, you gotta quit taking all of this to heart. You’ll spend the rest of your life with your face in my shirtfront,” JC told her. “Not that I mind in the least,” he assured her. “But this isn’t you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I hate that he did it to me again.”
JC brushed his mouth against her temple. “Then let’s all fight it together.”
“All?”
“Sure.” Lance stepped forward. “We’re all willing to help.”
“But how?” Amelia asked.
“For one, I don’t think we should be pussy-footing around you. We’ve been tiptoeing around the issue. We let you back slide.” JC knew for certain he had been holding back – the others had, too. “How did you get passed it before?”
“I was unemployed. I didn’t go many places until I felt stronger.”
JC traced the remains of the once dark purple bruises on her arm. The force that had been exerted to leave marks that horrible must have been tremendous. She’d held up against that without shedding a tear or revealing her fear – that meant the girl had steel. She could begin to rely on it to heal herself. The now yellow splotches left needed to be all that remained of that terrible night. Amelia needed to come out of the shadow of fear. “We can’t hide you away, Ami, but we can get on with our lives.”
She nodded. “But the extra cuddling has been nice.”
Except this was to only place she allowed it — and that would end tonight. “So, from now on, it’s business as usual?” JC asked.
“Okay,” she agreed softly.
He gave her an encouraging smile. “Let’s do it!” He released her with a gentle pat on the bottom. “Back to our places.”
And one of her places was in his bed – full-time.
Amelia watched from her pillow as JC prepared for bed. He stripped as usual – but instead of grabbing his pajamas, he climbed in naked and semi-aroused.
JC watched her eyes go wide, then turn wary. He didn’t much like the idea of pushing the subject of their sex life, but he wanted his Ami back – and here is where he needed to make his stand. This was the battleground and it would be won. Once she was his again here – she could resume her life away from the bedroom with more confidence. “Ami, I’m not going to jump you,” he assured her as he brought her into his arms.
“I know that.” Her answer was a little too quick, nervous.
“Do you? I don’t think so.” With one finger under her chin, he tipped her face up for a soft kiss. “I miss my brown-eyed baby girl. Does she miss me?”
“We’re not apart—“
“Aren’t we, Ami? It’s been weeks since you wanted me like you used to. We were insatiable with each other.” He kept his voice low, almost hypnotizing. “Don’t tell me we are settling into boring coupledom already.” He flicked his tongue along the shell of her ear, feeling her shiver. “You bored with me, baby?”
“No…”
“Have I ever left you wanting?” He nuzzled the sweet spot below her ear.
“Never.”
“Do I frighten you? Am I too rough? Do you want to sleep apart from me?” Each question was partnered by a kiss moving lower. Skating his mouth over her shoulder, he pushed the strap of her gown off.
“No. No. And definitely no.”
“Then let’s love each other like before, baby. Don’t let him win by coming between us.” He nudged the edge of her gown from the top of one breast and placed damp kisses on her tender flesh.
Abruptly, Amelia pulled away and sat up – and JC was about to protest when she whipped her nightgown over her head and tossed it to the floor. Returning to his arms, she scattered kisses over his dear face. She was not going to lose JC to Nick’s folly. He had been right – it meant Nick had won.
He smiled and cupped her face to bring her mouth to his. At first, she seemed to hesitate before opening to him. Keeping it slow and easy, he gently pushed aside all barriers until she melted against him. Letting the slow thrust of his tongue imitate what he planned doing with lower body parts later, he was rewarded with a soft moan of pleasure. While continuing the kiss, he reached one hand down to caress the mounds of her breast, deliberately avoiding the peaks pouting for his touch.
Amelia pulled his mouth from his. “Don’t tease, baby.”
“I’m not. Tell me what you want.”
By covering his hand with one of hers, she guided his thumb over a beaded nipple. “And I want your mouth there.”
“That’s what I want, too, brown-eyes. I was just waiting for you to let me know.” JC lowered his head to do her bidding.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Amelia whispered, nuzzling the top of his head.
“Ami, I would give you all the time in the world to recover,” he murmured against her flesh, “but we don’t have it.” He moved his head to the other swollen bud. “And I want us to love each other as much as we can.”
“Josh, don’t.” She brought his face to his to deliver a tender kiss.
“I feel like the grains of sand in our hourglass have almost run out.”
“Then we’ll turn it over and start all over again.”
JC laid her back, moving over her. “How many times can we do that, Ami?”
“As many times as we have to, baby.”
It did his heart good to hear her say that. JC knew they couldn’t hold back time – but they could hold back the inevitable for as long as possible.
“Love me, Josh,” Amelia whispered.
“With everything in me.”