Lauren Dane - Broken Open

When he’d come back from tossing his dirty clothes, the water was hot and he stepped under the spray with a sigh. He didn’t need to shower then. He could just sleep, clean up before he headed to the hospital with his stuff in the trunk and get ready at the arena.

But a riot of energy coursed through him. It wasn’t about getting clean. He needed to jerk off so he could fucking sleep.

He worked soap into his palms, turning the bar over and over until his hands were nice and slick. Head back, he let the water hit him from all three directions as he trailed slippery hands over his nipples, tugging the bar through the left one. It wasn’t like he had to do much to get close again.

The memory of how she’d been just a few hours before came easily. Tuesday Eastwood was alluring. Sexy. Smart and funny. She was beautiful and vibrant and so totally in charge of her shit.

Her taste was on his mouth as he licked over his bottom lip. Right before he wrapped a fist around his cock and pumped slowly.

Fuckyeah .

He imagined her back arching as he slowly pressed into her body. She’d wrap her legs around his waist...if he took her missionary. Maybe he’d thrust a few times and roll her over and start again.

Yeah, that worked.

She had a great back, a fantastic ass; he’d look his fill as he got closer and closer. From that angle he could take her in slow, deep thrusts.

He drew close but he didn’t want to let go of that image. Tried to slow down but the time he’d spent with her earlier that night had pushed him too far.

All the adrenaline and sexual energy he’d been pumping out for hours and hours built up in the balls of his feet and barreled up his legs, lodging in his gut.

He thought about her. Remembered her voice. Remembered the sounds she’d made as he’d driven her to climax. Licked his lips to get one last whisper of her scent and taste as he came so hard he had to slap a hand against the tile to keep from falling over.

When he crawled into bed—yes, around two cats and a dog—it was four already. He’d wake up at nine and check in with Vaughan and depending on what his brother said, he’d head to the hospital after that.

There wasn’t anything else he could do right then so he let himself fall into sleep.

CHAPTER SIX

TUESDAY WAS AT her worktable when Natalie came into the shop the next morning just before eight. She looked up, switching off her work light. “Hey. I just put on a new pot of coffee. It should be done in a few minutes. Any word on Maddie?”

“I’d say I couldn’t believe you’re here, but that’s a lie. I wish you weren’t but I knew you would be. Anyway.” Natalie held up a hand to stop Tuesday from arguing. References to Tuesday’s chronic insomnia weren’t new. “Maddie’s awake and in good spirits according to Paddy. He, Ezra and Damien are heading to the hospital and will meet us at the arena later. Mary is riding with us but I can tell you she’s currently in her kitchen cooking for everyone at the hospital. I’m going to guess she’ll want to go early so we can all eat together and then go to the show. Would that work for you?”

It had been a little odd to see Natalie make a friendship with Mary. She was part of Natalie’s life in a way Tuesday couldn’t be. Which was so good for her to have that sort of support within the Hurley family ranks. But there were times it smarted just a little.

It was also undeniable that Mary was a lovely person who cared about her family and Tuesday liked the Hurleys very much.

“Sounds like a good idea. I’m sure it’ll make Mary feel better. It’ll give everyone a chance to rest and eat after the stress of the hospital. Also, I can’t lie—I want to peep at this Kelly character.” Tuesday put her tools aside and came around to where Natalie had dropped into a chair near the counter.

The coffeemaker beeped. “Hold that thought. Coffee’s ready.”

Tuesday poured them both a mug and brought them over with some sugar.

“Just let me know when you want to leave. I managed to finish two pieces this morning and a customer picked up some frames a while back. So I’m good to close up whenever.”

Tuesday had finally accepted Nat’s invitation to visit the small town her best friend had moved to because she needed an anchor or she was worried she’d float away. Or to be fair it was more like she was beginning to not be worried about floating away and that brought her to the person she knew would see just how messed up Tuesday was and how much she needed to have someone refuse to let her spin bullshit anymore about being fine.

She hadn’t been fine then. Though she’d got better since, when she’d first slept in Natalie’s guest room and let herself accept that it could be her reality, that she could move to Hood River. It had been a step back into a life she actually lived instead of something that happened while she hid from it.

She knew how to frame things. Did a lovely job with it because she had a knack for what looked right for each person and back in high school she’d worked for a frame place at the mall so she had the skill set. Her custom work and the other pieces she sold on consignment of preframed art brought in enough to pay her half of the mortgage.

But what she really truly wanted to do was make jewelry full-time. Big, chunky pieces of a wide variety of shades, shapes and textures. She had a stall at a local farmers’ market and had been slowly building a customer base that way. She also had heard recently that a big outdoor market in Portland had given her a spot for a stall starting the following month. The exposure was on a far broader scale. She felt more alive and full of hope for the future right then than she had since about a year before Eric had died.

“I’ve seen a picture of her.” Natalie leaned an elbow on the counter, tearing Tuesday from her memories. “Kelly. Did you know she was a model?” Nat wandered off topic. “You know what would be really good with this coffee? A cinnamon roll. Even a cookie. Oatmeal, which is healthy even.” Natalie smiled brightly and Tuesday snorted.

“I have almonds and some apples.”

“I said good, not apples and almonds.” She frowned, still managing to look gorgeous. “So for God’s sake, tell me about it. Tell me how you feel after last night,” Natalie burst out.

“I’m hungry. Come on. Let’s lock up and I’ll make pancakes.”

“Wow, you so don’t want to talk about it.”

Tuesday put a cloth over the work she’d been doing and slid the tray into a drawer. “I’m still processing it. I feel fine. He’s...well, you know.” She threw her hands up, frustrated that he was so appealing. “I don’t know. We haven’t even actually fucked yet. We barely know one another.”

Natalie washed out the coffee stuff as she spoke over her shoulder, “You and Ezra know each other. You have since that first meeting. I see the way you look at each other, the way you circle and get all flushed. I’ve been going out with Paddy since July of last year and in all that time I’ve never seen Ezra with a woman. Or talk about a woman. Other than you.”

“Pause the lecture.” Tuesday turned off the interior lights except the security ones and then hit the alarm before returning to gather her things and lock up.

“I’m sure you walked so I’m up here.” Natalie pointed to her car.

Natalie started in again once they got on their way home. “And you, well you’ve built a wall around your heart.”

Tuesday held up a hand Natalie couldn’t see because she was driving. But her friend would know it was happening anyway. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Too bad. I’ve let you avoid it for way too long.”