Page 3 of Stone
Her ex sounded like a prick and an abusive asshole. He hadn’t meant to scare Naomi when he spoke, but the marks on her thighs looked like he’d used a switch or a small whip. The marks disappeared under her panties and went down about eight inches on the back of her thighs. The fury that had filled him when he’d seen them had him wanting to find Jared the Jerk, as Naomi called him.
Her head was leaning against his chest and her eyes were closed.
“Naomi, do you want me to take you back to your room to sleep, or do you want to sleep here, and I’ll sleep on my couch?” he asked. He wasn’t sure this was the smart move, but it sounded like she hadn’t had a lot of choices in life, and he wasn’t going to make the decisions for her.
She smiled at him and opened her eyes. “Wanna sleep in your bed, please. Bet you could make a woman come. Hey, you’re a tattoo artist. Would you tattoo my scars so I could wear shorts and look pretty?” she asked.
When she smiled, she wasn’t just pretty—she was gorgeous. Her eyes were shining, though right now they had the glassiness of overconsumption.
He slipped his hand under her thighs, lifting her into his arms. He’d put her in his bed and let her sleep it off. He carried her in.
“Yes, if you want me to tattoo the scars, I could, or if you’d feel more comfortable having a woman do it, Frankie or Harry could,” he said, carrying her toward his room. His sheets were fresh. Since he’d gotten out of prison, he’d been obsessed with clean, fresh-smelling sheets. He changed them out every other day. He’d changed them this morning.
He tugged the comforter back and laid her down on her side. She’d consumed a lot of wine. He wondered if she drank frequently and had a good tolerance or if she’d be regretting it soon.
He slipped her sandals off, tucking her feet under the cover. He grabbed the trashcan from his bathroom, placing it on the floor beside the bed. Once he had her settled, he stared at the vision in his bed. He brushed her hair off her face. She was beautiful, funny, and a good mom. He’d seen how she acted with her girls, Regan, Taylor, and Beck.
He turned to go but her hand grabbed his, stopping him.
“Thank you, Stone, for letting me stay and listening,” she whispered, her big eyes staring at him, her plump lips begging him to kiss them. He’d never take advantage of a woman in this state, but her lips were so tempting. He wondered how soft they’d feel and how she’d taste.
“You’re welcome. I’ll bring water in, so you won’t get dehydrated,” he said.
He left the room before he spent the night watching her sleep like a stalker. He took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and placed it on the bedside table. Her deep breathing signaled she was already asleep. He turned the light off and left the room. He’d definitely need to change his sheets after she slept in them. He’d never be able to sleep with her light, clean fragrance permeating the sheets.
He grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and settled in his recliner, leaning it back and pulling the cover up. He sent a quick text to Locks that let him know Naomi was safe but was sleeping it off at his house.
Locks’ reply of a thumbs up made Stone shake his head. Benji, Locks’ son, had been giving Locks emoji lessons because he said Locks needed to be up-to-date and not embarrass himself.
Stone moved a little, finding the perfect spot to relax in. Sleeping in the recliner wasn’t a hardship. He’d spent many a night sleeping in it after getting out. He’d had a hard time adjusting. He’d either worked out until he dropped from exhaustion or slept in the recliner because the bed was too soft.
Thinking back over Naomi’s words had him wondering exactly where Jared was and what he was doing. A man who acted like that toward his wife wouldn’t give up easily. So why had the divorce been so speedy? He’d ask War tomorrow what was going on. Since War’s wife was Naomi’s cousin, he was positive War would have the details.
He’d tattoo her if she wanted, but he wasn’t the man for her. Naomi was all sunshine and brightness. She didn’t need an ex-con in her life and neither did her girls. Though he was positive her pretty lips would be the vision he fell asleep to tonight.
Chapter Two
Naomi shuddered at the taste in her mouth, then regretted it immediately because it made her head pound more. She lay there trying to remember what she’d done. She’d walked the compound, consuming more wine than she’d ever had. She remembered singing and then, oh for fuck’s sake, she’d poured out her personal problems to Stone.
At least she knew now: wine made her overshare. She’d be avoiding that in the future. Stone had been sweet, but she’d basically made him let her sleep at his house. She’d be embarrassed if her stomach wasn’t twisting and turning with nausea.
She cracked her eyes open. Faint sunlight came through the crack between the curtains. She was lying on her side. A bottle of water, a bottle of ibuprofen, and a stack of toast were on the side table with a note beside it.
Naomi,
First, you’re in my bed. You said you didn’t want to go back to your room. Second, nothing happened between us besides me taking your shoes off and making sure there was a trash can beside you. Water, toast, and meds are there if you need them. Third, if you remember what you asked me, the answer is yes, I’d be happy to. I’m at work until after six. Stay as long as you need. Feel free to shower or just hang out if you want.
Stone
She stayed on her side, reaching for a piece of toast, nibbling to see if it would stay down. She wasn’t sure how she felt about her oversharing. But he’d said he was willing. He could have said no to tattooing her thighs, but he didn’t. Maybe this could be the start of her taking back her life. She’d wear what she wanted, not what someone else told her she had to do.
The toast seemed to settle okay. She slowly sat up. When she didn’t immediately need to run to the bathroom, she opened the water bottle and took a sip. The water washed away some of the nasty taste from last night. She shook a couple tablets into her hand, washing them down with the water. She should probably head back to her room. The girls were with Locks and Hope until lunch, but she wanted to get out of her dress and take a hot shower.
She’d known that Bluff Creek was different, but Stone’s actions last night cemented it. He’d taken care of her when he didn’t have to. First, she needed to walk back. Second, she needed to shower, and then third, she needed to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
She ate two more slices of toast, finished the water, and then stripped the bed. She started the sheets in the washer and remade the bed with sheets she found in the linen closet.
Before Naomi left, she did a quick freshen-up in the bathroom, running her fingers through her hair and squeezing a line of toothpaste on her finger. It wasn’t as effective as a toothbrush, but it did freshen her mouth a little.
