Love Heals All Wounds Read online

  Pace Jones stared at the young woman. She was stupid, hadn’t even seen him following her out of the bar after work. He needed money. He needed to ditch the stolen car and find a better place to hide out and make his plan of attack. He was thrilled when he saw this petite little brunette with one sexy little body. She didn’t compare to Maya. Now that woman had a set of breasts on her that Pace couldn’t stop thinking about. Her curves, her gorgeous light green eyes, and that innocent fragility that would make Maya submissive in bed and cooperative as a prisoner to his fantasies. His brother and Lucas Ports had promised him that. Promised to take Charlie, that sexy, hot therapist, and have a real intimate party with them, but it turned to shit fast. Lucas set them up to be decoys while he took off with that hot therapist. Pace wasn’t stupid. As soon as he heard the sirens he took off. His brother stayed. Did he get to take her body before the cops showed up to stop Hurley? Probably not. As Pace ran through the backyard of her house and into the woods, the cops were running into the house, never even looking in his direction. Getting away was a piece of cake. Remaining undetected was brilliance. He had always been smarter than Hurley. Smarter than anyone. He would come up with a plan to have Maya. To take her away and do what he wanted with her. Maya’s body was too perfect, too appealing to run away from and wait. He never had much patience.

  “Please, please,” the little brunette begged as she moaned and tried moving. Her hands were tied to the ropes and bed posts, her ankles, too. He reached out to stroke her thigh. She had been a temporary distraction, a practice run before he went after Maya and claimed her his woman. That’s what those men did in these towns. They shared women, took care of them, or claimed to, but really they were all screwing the women, dominating them, making them their pets, their possessions, their sex slaves. There wouldn’t be much time for anything else with multiple men screwing one woman. He would be better than multiple men. Alone, he would dominate Maya, break her down emotionally, mentally, and then physically. After all, he was a killer, an escaped prisoner, a man who was wanted by authorities. When he took Maya and they began their lives together, it would have to be someplace safe. Someplace hidden. That was the next step, and the four thousand dollars this bitch right here provided for him would help along the way.

  “I don’t want to die,” she sobbed.

  “I have no choice. Can’t leave any loose strings. I’ve got a plan to make, and your services are no longer needed.” He picked up the knife, and he looked at her body. “Well, maybe one more time before we end this.” He licked his lips, closed his eyes, and imagined this woman was Maya. “I’m coming for you, Maya. I’m coming to get you. Very soon.”

  “If you have a cramp, don’t push yourself. Five miles is a great start,” Nash said as he slowed down and then worked on catching his breath.

  Maya was perspiring and bent over slightly. “I used to do eight.”

  “Well, you’ve been out of commission for a little bit. Plus in order to exert energy, you need substance. How about before we head to the dojo we get lunch?”

  “Are you kidding me? The dojo? I didn’t sign up for that.” He chuckled at her little attitude. It was killing him to not be able to snag her around the waist in her little tight spandex pants and purple tank top and kiss her. She looked so good. He knew she was well endowed, and the sports bra and tank top did nothing to hide her attributes. He licked his lips and stared down at her. She really was petite. Her hands were on her hips, and he saw how toned her muscles were. She just needed to gain a little weight back, and learn some self-defense moves.

  “We need to develop your training. Help to build that confidence back up.”

  She stared at him as she stood straight up now. “Nash, I don’t think I feel comfortable with that.”

  He stepped closer and stroked her jaw. He clenched her chin. “I’m not leaving you or allowing anyone else to train with you. Basically, we’re just using the mats at the dojo. Culter is conducting a class in one room, and the other one is open for anyone doing extra training. It will be fine.”

  She was shaking, he could feel her. He placed his hand on her hip, and she tightened up. “Remember what I said about trusting me, that I’m not here to trick you or hurt you? I care about you.”

  “Nash.”

  “I care about you,” he said firmly, holding her gaze. She nodded her head. He gave a soft smile at the indication of progress. Little by little no matter how long it took, he would convince Maya that they were meant to be together. The more difficult part would be getting her to accept his brothers eventually, as well.

  Texas Ranger Alex Weathersen was working out in the dojo with Culter and a few other men when Faris Montgomery, another deputy, asked Culter how Maya was doing. “Why not ask Alex since it’s Nash that’s back there with her doing some training?” Culter said, and then Faris looked at Alex.

  “Well?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t even know my brother was with her. She’s been so distant and timid.”

  “That’s understandable. It was pretty intense of a situation, and just a few more minutes and the results would have been far worse,” Faris said and exhaled as the session ended.

  “I know. It was very upsetting. I’m glad my brother is with her though. I don’t like that she’s alone in that cottage. I didn’t know how she’s even staying there,” Alex said then took a long sip from his water bottle.

  “Maybe she can’t move out because there’s no place else for her to rent?” Faris asked.

  “You guys own several houses and cottages. There isn’t anything vacant for her?” Culter asked and winked. Faris smile.

  “That would be a great idea. You and your brothers could watch over her, and as she gains back her confidence, you could be her guardians,” Faris said.

  “Not sure that will work with her. She’s resistant to any deep conversations. I think we’ll be supportive friends like other people are being.”

  “Hmm, well, be careful about the friends thing because she could get so used to it that will be the only way she sees you, and you and Nash want more,” Faris said and Culter chuckled.

  “Look at this guy. The relationship guru. And you were in a committed relationship when?” Culter teased him.

  “Screw you. I know a lot of shit. Don’t be jealous because you guys aren’t in tune to what a woman wants and needs in a man.”

  “Ohh boy, here we go with the bullshit,” Alex said, and Culter started cracking up. So did the other guys who were listening as they packed their gear up and another group started walking in.

  “Well, good luck. Maya is gorgeous and sweet, and she needs looking after. She’s a tiny little thing, but tough, too,” Faris said, and Alex looked toward the other room and grabbed his bag and headed over. Maybe she would be okay with the two of them helping her out.

  “I don’t think I can do that. You’re too tall. Too much bigger, Nash,” Maya said as Nash stood in front of her with his hands on his hips.

  “Size doesn’t matter here. It’s quickness and the move. I grab your arm. You immediately turn, shoving your elbow into my chest, then down over this part of my arm. As I bend and release you, do whatever. You can punch me in the face, kick me in the groin. You want to incapacitate me so I can’t chase you so easily. You’re giving yourself a running chance,” he explained.

  “Do it slowly.”

  Maya heard the deep voice and recognized it immediately. There stood Alex, Nash’s brother. “Hey, Alex, class all over?” Nash asked, and Alex nodded as he looked over Maya. She felt it and had to turn away. She fixed her ponytail. “I was just going over some basics with Maya. We started our training regimen today.”

  “Oh yeah, what did you do first?” he asked, walking into the room. She felt her chest tighten. He was just as big as Nash. He had darker blond hair, a clean-shaven face, but a fierceness about him. He was also about forty years old. A very seasoned and attractive older man.

  “We went for a five-mile run,” Nash said, and
she held Alex’s gaze. He looked so good. He had such huge muscles. His shirt stretched across them, and she could see the ridges of muscle through the material of the shirt.

  “Nice, and now some self-defense training?” he asked.

  “Exactly, then next time we’ll hit the bags for some kickboxing and stuff.” Nash sounded excited about training with her. She had to admit he was very good, and she would be crazy to not enjoy this time getting to know him. But now with Alex here, too, she felt overwhelmed and nervous.

  “Well, don’t let me stop you then. Go on and try the move, sweetheart,” he said to her, and the way he called her sweetheart and stared at her body was unnerving to say the least. She swallowed hard and turned toward Nash.

  “Ready?” Nash asked.

  “Okay,” she said.

  He reached out to grab her arm, and she went to elbow him and then hesitated, and Nash wrapped her up in his arms. She gasped and stared up into Nash’s eyes.

  “You don’t need to worry about hurting me, Maya. Just strike and don’t think about things,” he said and slowly released her. She could still feel his big strong arms against her skin even though he let her go.

  “Again,” Alex chimed in, and now he was even closer.

  Nash reached for her arm, and she elbowed him, hard. She was so intimidated by these big men so close to her. He grunted, and then she shoved her arm down like he had explained and then kicked him and punched him. He fell to the mat.

  “Damn, that was awesome, Maya,” Alex said, and Nash coughed and clenched his teeth and closed his eyes.

  “Oh God,” she said when she realized she hurt him. She fell to her knees and caressed his arm and his cheek. “Are you okay?”

  He immediately smiled. She narrowed her eyes at him. She really thought she had hurt him. She gave his chest a shove and went to stand up, but Nash pulled her back down. She fell against his chest and stared at his face, his lips inches away. She could kiss him. Taste him and finally know what it felt like. Did she want that?

  “Go for it,” Alex whispered. She went to look up at him, but Nash slid his hand up under her hair and pressed his lips to hers. He rolled to the side, moved his thigh between her thighs as her body absorbed the feel of his weight, his muscles, and how much power and control he had over her. As he deepened the kiss her fear increased, and she battled between what felt right against the only experiences she had with any man, which were negative. He must have sensed her need to slow things down as he released her lips softly, held her gaze as he lifted slightly. She stared up at him.

  “Okay?” he whispered, and in that moment she realized that Nash truly cared about her feelings, her fears. His sincerity was authentic. Tears filled her eyes, and he squinted. “Shhh, no, baby, please, oh God, please don’t tell me I scared you, that I pushed too far.”

  She shook her head, and he eased up, then held out his hand to help her up. When she stood in front of him and held his gaze, she didn’t know what to say or do, so she hugged him around the waist so hard he stepped back with her, but wrapped her up immediately in his arms. More tears fell, but she wiped them as he caressed her hair and her back. Then her eyes locked onto Alex’s.

  He looked so fierce. His dark blue eyes, almost navy in color, narrowed at her as he slowly approached. He closed the space between them, and she began to loosen her hold on Nash. Alex took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. She felt Nash letting go of her, felt his arm slide from her back to her ass as Alex pulled her closer, lowered down, and kissed her next. For that moment they were both touching her, she felt the wave of desire, or want she never thought she would ever feel. To her sex was violent. Intimacy with a man meant pain. This didn’t feel like pain or anything negative. This felt good. Right in so many ways. When Nash joined in and placed his hands on her shoulders and she felt his lips against her neck as Alex kissed her, she moaned. When Alex caressed his palm along her hip, then over her lower back and ass, she knew she needed to put on the brakes. She pulled back. He released her lips, and she lowered her forehead to his chest. “What in God’s name just happened?” she asked. Nash caressed her shoulders. That deep, sexy voice did a number on her no matter what words came from his mouth.

  “You let go, sugar. That’s what happened.”

  Alex caressed Maya’s back. He was overwhelmed with emotions here, and it was hard for him to try and process it and what took place. He was also grateful that she didn’t say another word to him or to Nash right now as they all seemed to process what happened. As he moved his palm along her lower back and pressed her closer, he felt how petite and feminine she was in his arms, and also super thin. Yet she had a perfectly round ass and very large breasts. In fact, he was surprised at how well-endowed she seemed to be. He felt his cock grow harder, and she lifted her head up. He stared down at her, licked his lower lip, and then spoke his mind. “You are very special, Maya. You’ve also made my day and then some.”

  She swallowed hard, then took a step back, only for Nash to place his hand on her shoulder and another on her hip. She gasped. “Made my day and then some, too,” Nash said to her.

  “I…I don’t—”

  “No. No denying this. We felt it coming and knew it would one day real soon. We know slow is the best way to handle this, but today we made progress, big time. You’ll learn really fast how much we care, and that we’ll take care of you, sweetheart, in every aspect of the words,” Nash said to her.

  “How about we go grab some coffee or a bite to eat and just enjoy the day?” Alex suggested.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Nash said.

  “Okay,” she whispered and when Alex released her he felt the loss instantly. Then he thought about Kase and Rhett, and whether they would be capable of taking things slow with Maya and if they would even want to have a relationship with a woman after all the things they went through in the military, and the scars that ran deeper than their skin.

  “This is such a nice surprise. Oh my goodness, how are you feeling, Maya?” Molly Forester, the owner of the Cherry Hill Café, asked her then gave Maya a hug.

  “I’m doing well, Mrs. Forester.”

  “Oh please, you call me Molly. Now come have a seat over here.” She brought them to a table that could seat five.

  “Will your brothers be joining you, as well?” she asked Nash.

  “Not today,” Nash replied and then squeezed Maya’s hand and placed it onto his lap. She worried her bottom lip. People would assume that Alex and Nash were staking a claim. That their brothers, Rhett and Kase, whom she really didn’t even know, would be part of this, too.

  Did she want that? Did she want the attention the three of them brought into the place as they walked in here together? It felt good to be seen with Nash and Alex. They were good-looking men, and both law enforcement, too. She would be the talk of the town but in a positive fashion instead of people feeling sorry for her.

  “Hi, Deputy Weathersen. How are you?” a young woman named Marcy asked as she paused by his chair and placed her hand on his shoulder. “You look so good even out of uniform.” She winked.

  “Hi, Marcy. How are you?” he asked, straight-faced. Maya felt uncomfortable.

  “This is nice seeing you here, and with your brother no less. If you both aren’t busy later, maybe you want to meet at Harper’s for a few drinks?” she asked. Maya couldn’t believe it. This woman Marcy was asking them out right here in front of her. What did she think, that Maya was just friends with Nash and Alex? Great. Maya would be working tonight and be behind the bar or waitressing, and little miss flirty pants would come in and touch Nash and Alex in front of her.

  “We’re busy with Maya. If you’ll excuse us, we’re getting ready to eat after a long training session,” Nash said, and his eyes went to Maya and he winked as he gazed over her body.

  “Maybe I’ll see you tonight,” Marcy said and squeezed his arm and walked away, wiggling her ass. Maya stared at her. Alex squeezed her knee, and she gasped and looked
at him.