Open Wounds (Damaged Souls Book 2) Read online

  The wall that the head of the bed was against, was done in a wallpaper that was a mural of her weeping willow and the river behind it. She could even see the colorful mason jars that Sloan had hung from the inner branches, as well as the rays of the sun peeking through the vines. They even captured the picture just right, so that the large bedroom windows were on either side of the weeping willow, adding to the light of the sun in the picture with real natural light. She looked at Sloan in question.

  “We took a picture of the weeping willow in the back with a professional digital camera. And of course being a contractor, I have the inside scoop to some things that many don’t know about. We took the picture to a wallpaper company, we gave them the measurements of the wall, and they printed out the mural for us”, Sloan looked at the wall with pride.

  “Well, it’s amazing!” Lexi continued to look around in shock. “It all is.”

  The rest of the walls were painted a soft and sunny yellow that brightened the whole room. Near the domed window was a chifforobe, painted in a fun, colorful mix-matched bohemian style. In the corner was a gorgeous privacy screen that had vintage mannequin forms for sewing, painted on it as well as words and phrases in French. In the opposite corner was an adorable swing chair, suspended from the ceiling. It was green and turquoise and shaped like an egg, with matching cushions inside. A tall, dark wood chest of drawers that had drawer fronts painted in different bold colors and designs sat against the wall near the unique chair. The wall facing the bed, had a wide dresser with drawer fronts similar to the chest of drawers and housed a new flat screen TV on top. And on either side of the bed, were beautiful hand carved tan nightstands.

  All of the colorful items and furniture in the room surrounded the focal point of the room, a stunning king size bed. The bedframe itself was a beautiful dark wood color, like the floor and had a low headboard to keep from hiding the mural of the weeping willow. The comforter set was in a deep rich purple that matched many of the items in the room, with a circular design in a bright yellow, white and fuchsia. And a lightweight fuchsia throw with beaded detail around the edges, laid at the foot of the bed.

  But the best part of the bed was the hanging pristine white canopy. Sloan had hung a metal rectangular frame from the ceiling and draped white, virginal gauzy sheers from it. One draped across the middle of the frame, and four others hung from each corner. To which he had tied back to showcase the bed and mural.

  “I also wanted to leave the small details to you, in here as well. And of course I left the other walls empty for your paintings, too. Just let me know which ones you’d like in here and I’ll hang them for you.” Sloan informed Lexi as she remained rooted to the spot in the middle of the room. “It’s all yours, you know? You can touch it and explore. It’s not a museum.” Sloan chuckled.

  “I know. I just keep thinking that if I touch anything, it’ll all disappear.” Lexi finally moved to the bed and touched one of the sheers and sighed deeply, happy to find that it didn’t vanish into thin air. “It was so hard for me to figure out what I wanted. I love some of the traditional décor for bedrooms, but I kept feeling like it wasn’t me. It’s great for other rooms in the house. But my bedroom felt different. Like it should reflect me. And since I’ve just begun trying to figure out who that is, it was hard for me to put my thoughts and wants, into words…into reality.” Lexi shook her head in wonder. “You got it so right it scares me.”

  “And we’re not done yet, either. There’s still the closet and the bathroom.” Sloan said as he strode over to the closet door and opened it with a small flourish.

  Lexi walked up to the entrance of the walk-in closet and peeked her head in. The closet was expanded from the added space of the spare bedroom. And she nearly danced a jig at the sight of the huge closet. There was space to hang clothing on either side, a rack for tons of shoes and built-in drawers for everything that couldn’t be hung.

  “Wow! I don’t even have enough clothes to fill this”, Lexi thought out loud.

  “Well, now you’ll have a reason to go shopping,” Sloan suggested with a wide grin. His silvery blue eyes sparkling. “Come on, let me show you the bathroom.”

  Lexi followed him to the bathroom door. The door itself was stunning. It was glass with dark wood trim around it that matched the floor. The glass of the door was made out of tiny colored stained glass. And the sunlight coming in through the bathroom windows, streamed through the glass, putting a beautiful colorful pattern on the floor.

  Lexi reached out and slid the pocket door open, and it easily disappeared into the wall that she had helped put up. “Yep, you helped build this wall,” Sloan said, guessing her thoughts. “And you should be proud. All the guys were impressed when I told them that you had cut the wood and helped nail in the frame.” Lexi felt heat spread into her cheeks at the praise.

  “I found some matching lament wood for the bathroom. I wanted to keep the flow and warmth of the bedroom into the bathroom, but I didn’t want you to worry about damaging the hardwood with water.” Sloan pointed out.

  “I would’ve never noticed the difference if you hadn’t said anything. It’s nearly a perfect match.” Lexi said as she stepped into the bathroom.

  Once again, Sloan took Lexi’s breath away, with his eye for detail and design. Covering part of the floor and adding to the coziness of the room, were a few rugs of different sizes. The main rug was large with sedate colors, and the smaller rugs near the bathtub and shower were of solid colors pulled from the larger one.

  The walls were painted in textured coral red, making the room look old world. He had chosen to go with two sinks, with matching vanities. The wood of the vanities looked like old reclaimed cabinets that were re-stained a dark wood. And the sinks were large raised copper bowls. One of the most unique things about the vintage looking basins was that the faucet and knobs came out of the wall instead of the sink itself. And above each sink were two beautiful quatrefoil shaped mirrors, framed in a gold finished metal.

  There was a section of the bathroom that was closed off to the right of the sinks. Lexi walked over and opened the rough wooden door, and inside was the toilet. The little water-closet giving more privacy when she or Sloan needed to do their business.

  Looking across from the water closet, Lexi gasped as she barely recognized her favorite original piece of the house, the claw-footed bathtub. Sloan had once again outdone himself with giving the old tub a makeover. He stripped the white paint off of the clawed-feet of the tub, leaving the gun metal color of the steel bare. He also removed the porcelain from around the outside of the tub to showcase the natural copper underneath, and then he refinished the inside of the tub, making the white shine like new. And he replaced the exposed pipes, faucet and knobs with new gun-metal colored hardware to match the feet of the tub. And to give the tub some privacy, he placed another beautiful privacy screen in front of it.

  On the other side of the room was a half wall. Curious, Lexi walked around the corner of the partial wall to see a beautiful open shower. Stunning mosaic style tile adorned the walls of the shower, and he created a deep ledge to sit on if she needed to. The shower head and knobs looked like vintage metal. The tiled floor of the shower had a raised lip on the edge so that the water didn’t pour out onto the floor. And the lack of a shower door or curtain, gave it the unique old world charm.

  Lexi stepped back out of the shower area and turned to look at the man standing in the middle of the renovated bathroom. His raven colored hair hung slightly in his face as he looked across the room at her with a shy smile. His eyes filled with naked love.

  The image of him started to blur, as Lexi’s eyes filled with tears. “Sloan…I…I…don’t even know what to say. My mind is blown.” She said in a wobbly voice, lifting her hands to gesture at the room at large.

  Sloan quickly walked over to her and clasped her face in his hands. As few tears escaped down her face, he leaned down and captured a salty tear with his full lips, the tip of his tongue tasting her. Le
xi gasped in response at feel of his tongue against her wet cheek. He hadn’t touched her sexually since Friday morning, not after her cutting incident, which was unusual for them. They had made love every day since the first day. So Lexi had feared that he didn’t want her anymore.

  “You’ve been through so much. Dealt with so much darkness, that I felt it was time that you had some light and beauty and color in your life. All of this up here is your private sanctuary. And just know that every nail hammered, every stroke of a paintbrush, every choice I made was filled with love and affection, and with you in mind.” Sloan admitted softly, looking down at her, wearing his heart on his sleeve.

  I love you. I love you so much! And I’m so, sorry…I can’t say it again. Please just give me time! Lexi tried to convey everything she felt in her eyes as she looked up at Sloan, in a rare and unguarded moment. And the scarred Marine must have seen something there, because in the next second, he crushed his lips to hers. He bent down, wrapping one arm around her back and the other under her butt, lifting her off of the floor.

  Sloan carried her back into the bedroom, and he turned and sat on the bed with her still in his lap. His hair had escaped from behind his ears, covering most of his face. With a gentle hand, Lexi slid her fingers into the silky mass, brushing it back off of his face, exposing his scars. Clutching both sides of his face, Lexi tilted his head down to her and placed her full lips on his forehead. As they often did, her lips found their way to his ragged scar on the left side of his face. She kissed him from the top of his scar above his brow, down to his prickly bearded jawline. Her lips moved to the smaller scar that ran through the left side of his mouth, and she kissed the side of his mouth tenderly, following the welt down to his chin. And he sighed in relief that she cared for him, despite his scars.

  Clasping her face, Sloan kissed her nose and looked into her mossy green eyes for a moment before speaking. “Are you sure you want to do this? You’re not too sore? I don’t want to hurt you.” Sloan asked, his voice gruff with need, but still willing to hold back for her.

  “I…I’m fine. Still a little sore, if I’m honest. But not enough to stop you.” Lexi answered softly, realizing he hadn’t touched her because he didn’t want to hurt her, from her fairly fresh cuts, which was new to her. Her exes never cared if she was sore from her cuts. All they knew how to do was take from her. Even when she wasn’t willing to give.

  “And you’re okay? You’re not still freaked out from what happened with Rick?” Sloan questioned further.

  “Oh…umm, I don’t know. I don’t think so.” Lexi replied, confused and a little dumbfounded that he cared. His caring and thoughtfulness was still so new to her, since she had never experienced anything like it before. So it was always a shock to her system.

  Sloan could see the surprised confusion on her face and explained further. “Lexi, I would never try to force you to make love to me, after what you went through. Not without your okay first.” Sloan said seriously.

  “Thank you,” Lexi said quietly.

  Rubbing her hands down his back, Lexi reached the hem of his t-shirt and started to pull it up over his body. Once it cleared his head, she tossed it onto the floor. Her tank top quickly followed it to the floor. Sloan’s rough hands stroked her back softly, as he reached for the clasp of her bra. Unhooking her, he slid the straps down her bronzed arms and flung it behind him. Her large heavy breasts spilled into his awaiting hands. He circled the hardening tips with his thumbs, and Lexi’s mouth opened on a silent gasp.

  Lexi held onto his shoulders, as he lifted each breast up to his mouth. He feasted on her nipples like a starving man, and she cried out. Her hips reflexively pumping towards his confined erection.

  Sloan let go of her nipple on a gasp. He grasped her wide hips and twisted, flipping her onto the bed. He quickly pulled off her yoga pants and panties and laid back down, his hips nestled between her thighs. He kissed up her smooth shoulder to her neck, up to her jaw and then to her lips. At the same time, pumping his hips towards her, slightly rubbing the bulge in his jeans against her aching sex.

  His hair fell down around her face, blanketing them in a curtain of raven satin, as he softly kissed her lips. His hand stroked down her soft skin. Down her neck, over one mountainous breast, tweaking the peak before he continued. He proceed down the valley of her tummy, to the pretty mound protected by a small triangle of hair. His finger progressed down to her drenched crease. The tip of his finger swirled around her opening, gathering moisture. Continuing to lavish soft kisses on her lips. Then at the same time as his wet finger stroked up to touch her sensitive clit, he flicked his tongue against her lips.

  Lexi cried out at the simultaneous sensations, and Sloan dipped his tongue into her panting mouth, continuing to finger her as her hips bucked in response. He refused to release his hold on the deep kiss as he swirled around, flicked and caressed her swollen button to a stunning climax. She released his mouth on a whimper, and her hips shuddered.

  In a tangle of desperate limbs, they both used hands and feet to remove his jeans, boxer briefs and work boots. Once he was free, he wasted no time in clutching his rock hard cock and stroked it up and down her soaking wet slit until the head was saturated in her sweet nectar. He slid in slowly, and they both tossed back their heads. They were both on sensory overload, her at the overwhelming fullness of him inside her, and him at the snug wet warmth of her surrounding him.

  Taking a few powerful strokes into her, Sloan noticed her slight grimace of pain, and he knew that his hips rubbing against her still sore inner thighs was causing her pain. So he slid out gently, he grasped her hips and flipped her onto her stomach. He grabbed a pillow and slid it under her hips, raising them up and then bent down to nip a few times at her bronzed round globes, unable to resist. And straddling her pretty ass, he held onto his manhood and gently eased into her already swollen labia, sinking in deep from behind.

  “Is this okay?” He asked, not wanting to hurt or scare her.

  She nodded her head into the mattress and raised her ass up higher, pushing him further into her, in response. Taking her queue, Sloan clutched her hips and began to take deep rolling thrusts into her. The impact of his flesh against hers sent her ass cheeks rippling in response, somehow making him grow even harder at the sexy image.

  Sloan bent down and kissed a path down her spine as he continued to roll his hips into her. Propping himself up on an elbow, he slid his other hand under her, to wrap around her hips. He then used the strength of his upper body to pull her back towards him, and the power of his hips to pump forward.

  She felt his dog tags graze her back, with every powerful thrust as he battered down her inner walls. Lexi’s body started to quake as the pressure built up. And as an earth-shattering orgasm crested, her muscles seized, and her already snug pussy clenched tighter around him. They both exploded their release. Her locked limbs and muscles let loose into convulsive spasms that rippled around him, making him come even harder.

  Sloan bit down gently on the soft skin of her shoulder, as he rode the wave of pleasure coursing through him. Finally spent, he collapsed half on top of her half on the soft bed. They both panted with exhaustion.

  Through his tangle of hair, Sloan watched as Lexi turned her head towards him. She reached up and brushed his hair back from his face. Gently tucking the strands behind his ear, which was becoming her habit, her sated green eyes touched every part of his face. He could tell that she was collecting and storing the image in her mind’s eye, to paint at a later time. Finally, her eyes rested on his. And again, she let her guard down, showing him without words, the love she felt.

  It’s enough…for now.

  Chapter 4

  Creep

  The next weekend after the big master bed and bath reveal, Sloan and Tank took a ride into town to get more supplies for the house. His crew was back working on the house for more overtime, and they were quickly running out of everything.

  Sloan parked the car in the big parkin
g lot. He gave Tank the command to stay with the car and then made his way into the store. He found everything quickly, having become very familiar with every aisle from multiple visits. He made his purchases and said goodbye to the cashier by name. Nearly all the employees knew him, and vice versa.

  As he walked to the car, Sloan noticed a man of average height and stocky, muscular build standing by the Mustang, talking softly to Tank. Sloan’s trained military eyes took in everything within seconds. He looked of mixed race, possibly black and white. His light brown hair was cut super close to his scalp. And when he looked up at Sloan’s approaching form, his pale gray eyes almost looked sinister. But the man smiled brightly, easing Sloan’s suspicions. Slightly.

  “Hey, man!” The man greeted as Sloan came up to the car. “This is one beautiful dog. Car too.” He complimented.

  “Thanks,” Sloan said as he put his shopping bags on the floor of the back seat. “The dog’s mine. The car is my girlfriend’s.” Sloan explained, and he noticed the man’s jaw flex and his smile falter slightly.

  Once his hands were free, the man extended his hand to shake Sloan’s. “Well, you both have good taste. I’m Derek, by the way.”

  “Sloan.” He responded as the man squeezed his hand a little tighter than necessary.

  “He’s really well trained,” Derek said as he pet Tank’s head. “And he looks like a wolf. What breed is he?”

  “Yeah, a lot of people say that. But he’s just an all-black German Shepard. And I trained him myself.” Sloan said, noticing that Tank didn’t wag his tail at the attention like he normally would. He didn’t growl, but he seemed just as hesitant about the man as Sloan was.

  “Wow! That’s really good training. Do you train dogs for a living? Most people don’t take the time out to train their dogs that well.” Derek asked curiously.

  “No, I’m a general contractor for home construction. Tank is a military trained dog. Most of his training took place in Afghanistan, on tour with me.” Sloan said, almost as a warning.