Rock Hard (Rock Kiss 2)

Charlotte had told herself to get over it. After all, he was so handsome, so smart, not the kind of boy anyone expected to fall for plain, shy Charlotte Baird. But the worst, the absolute worst thing, was how it had all begun. She might’ve been inexperienced and painfully lacking in confidence, but she wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t have been drawn into his orbit if he’d been mean and cruel from the start. No, Richard’s abuse had been slow and insidious, like a spider trapping a helpless insect in its web before the insect ever knew it was in danger.

Jumping at the hard rap of knuckles on her front door, she realized Gabriel had arrived. Shaky all over again at the reminder that she’d promised to tell him everything, she made her way to the door, opened it with hands that trembled. He was wearing jeans, heavy work boots that looked like they’d had a hard life, and a short-sleeved black shirt worn loose over his jeans. The shirt had stud detailing on the pocket flaps and the sleeves, fit perfectly over his wide shoulders.

Sliding off his mirrored sunglasses, he looked her up and down.

Her skin chilled, the memory of Richard’s cold recitation of her flaws a loud hum in the back of her skull.

21

THE NIGHT THE MONSTER WAS REAL…

“I DO LIKE YOU in a dress, Ms. Baird,” said the man on her doorstep, the man who wasn’t Richard. “Gives me all sorts of ideas about easy access.”

Charlotte blushed, all thoughts of Richard forgotten. “I thought since it was so nice and sunny out…” She’d worn a sleeveless white sundress, teaming it with a pretty belt of orange patent leather. Instead of a white cardigan, she’d chosen a lime-green one. The outfit was one of the most colorful in her new wardrobe and it made her feel like spring even in winter.

“I have a new appreciation for the sun.” Reaching out to cup her jaw, he said, “Shall I kiss you, Charlotte? Lick my tongue over yours, suck on the tip until you whimper?” He accompanied each word with a rub of his thumb over her lower lip. “Open.”

Her lips parted almost of their own accord, her heart skittering against her ribcage. Closing her lips over his thumb when he slipped it inside, she sucked… then bit down enough to smart.

Eyes darkening, he drew his thumb out and tapped it against lips that felt kiss swollen already. “Just for that, you have to wait for your kiss.” He tugged her outside. “You have everything?”

Not capable of speech just yet, she nodded and, taking her keys out of her handbag, locked up the town house after setting the alarm. Gabriel slid his hand down her back to rest on the curve of her ass as she put away the keys. It made her jump, but he didn’t remove his hand, circling gently as he nudged her to the car.

“What do you keep in there?” he said, eyes on her handbag. “It’s big enough for not only the kitchen sink but all the appliances.”

“Ha-ha,” she managed to get out past her awareness of his touch. “Don’t ask me next time you need a pen or a piece of sticky tape.”

He stroked her again, his cheeks creasing. The heat of him branded her, the mark pulsing even after she was in the passenger seat.

“Where to?” he asked after he was inside, sunglasses back on.

“Albert Park.” It had taken her time to get comfortable in the university area again, but these days, she deliberately hopped off the bus a couple of stops early and cut through the adjacent park on her way to work. It meant something to her that Richard hadn’t destroyed her pleasure in the beautiful area.

She loved the active quiet of it in the mornings, peopled by early-rising student joggers, and others dressed for work who were taking a shortcut to the central business district. Some people walked briskly, eyes on their smart phones, but most traversed the paths with a leisurely stride, smiling at one another as they passed. Every so often, she’d see a group practicing Tai Chi under the canopy of one of the larger trees and would stop to watch the graceful, slow melody of movement.

Nine thirty on a public holiday, it was busier but not crazy. Gabriel found a parking space only a couple of minutes’ walk away, and they were soon entering the park, his hand on her lower back. With Auckland free of snow even in winter, the park usually had flowers of some kind or another even in the coldest season. Now, heading into the tail end of that season, the garden beds boasted a profusion of color.

“I always wonder how they keep it so beautiful no matter the season,” she said, the two of them taking the pathway that would lead eventually to the covered band rotunda. Charlotte didn’t want to be enclosed even that much. Instead, she turned right, taking them toward an open area populated only by a number of large trees, their limbs curving and winding and creating living sculptures.

“You should ask Sailor about the garden stuff,” Gabriel said. “He’s like a plant encyclopedia.”

“How did he end up in landscaping and gardening rather than sports?”

“He’s the nerd in the family—always was more interested in science and plants.” A grin that took the sting out of the words, his pride in his brother clear. “He does play club rugby on the weekends for fun, so we haven’t disowned him.”

Charlotte sighed. “There’s no hope for me then. I love sports, but I’m not coordinated enough to actually be any good at them.”

He shifted his hand to her hip, squeezed. “What are you talking about?” he said as things went all melty and hot low in her body. “You wrangle T-Rexes, don’t you?”