The smile spread into a satisfied grin. Damn, but she pleased him. "So if I don't shave every day, or my hair gets shaggy again, you won't mind?"
There was a load of emotion in her eyes when she looked up at him. She started to say something-
And others joined them.
Justice assumed Miles and Armie had filled them in on Fallon's background, but it didn't show. They didn't treat her any differently. But he noticed that a few of the women mentioned their own backgrounds, the difficulties they'd faced-and how they'd gotten beyond them.
Armie, too, talked about his dad, a subject that had once been very taboo but seemed to come easier to him these days now that he was a father, too. All in all, they created an atmosphere of camaraderie that felt both safe and accepting.
Fallon listened to each person with genuine concern and caring. She didn't shy away from their confessions, but she also didn't get too nosy with her questions.
Justice wasn't disappointed that Fallon hadn't yet chimed in; she needed time, he understood that.
But tonight, he felt, was a good start.
Tomahawk showed up an hour or so later, along with a few of the newer fighters. Everyone who joined them brought along beer or snacks and soon everyone was mellow from food, drink and friendship.
A million stars hung in the dark sky. A gentle breeze teased the air. All around them crickets sang.
And Justice was so horny, he could barely breathe.
It was nearing midnight when he decided he couldn't wait any longer.
The bonfire had died down and no one seemed interested in keeping it blazing. Some people had already left with the designated drivers, and the remaining couples were cuddled up together, talking quietly. Occasionally a soft laugh filled the air.
Justice lifted Fallon into his lap and nuzzled her neck with damp kisses. "You ready to go?"
The question, along with the intimate familiarity, left her muddled. "I... That is..."
Deliberately, he'd put his mouth near her burn scars. He needed her to know that he found every inch of her sexy.
Cupping a hand to her cheek, he encouraged, "Say yes."
She let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Yes."
Justice had to grin. Her reply had sounded like an answer to a lot more than what he'd asked. "I have a few things to say, but it'll wait until we're alone in the car."
Their goodbyes to the others took them a few minutes more. As usual, all the guys had to hug her, most of the ladies, too. This time, though, Fallon seemed more at ease with it.
Soon as that was done, she eased close to his side again. He put an arm around her shoulders and together they walked to the side yard.
It was as soon as they rounded the house to the front that Justice saw the dark Corvette parked on the street.
The same car that had tailed them days before.
After taking quick inventory of the other vehicles and assigning each to the people he knew, he jerked around to stare at the backyard-and realized Tom had arrived last. So was it his car?
Was it Tom who'd been following them? Was he possibly the one who'd...
But why? What was his end game?
Justice remembered that Tom was with Fallon when she fell-or was pushed-and his fury expanded.
"Justice?" Fallon peered up at him, her skin pale in the wash of moonlight, her eyes huge and luminous. "Is something wrong?"
The moment she spoke, he realized that he'd tightened his hold on her. Immediately, he let up, saying, "Everything's fine." He needed to corral his rioting thoughts and temper his automatic anger until he could talk with Tom.
It wouldn't be tonight. In fact, he thought, maybe he shouldn't say anything at all. He'd keep Fallon safe, so he knew no harm would come to her. And maybe if he gave Tom enough rope, he'd either hang himself, or prove his innocence.
Justice decided he liked that plan. Tomorrow, after he fessed up to Sahara, he'd discuss this new twist with Leese. Maybe Armie and Cannon, too, since they'd be around Tom more often.
"Come on." He walked with Fallon across the dew-wet grass to the curb where he'd parked. Keeping watch up and down the street, he unlocked the door and waited while she got settled inside, then went around to the driver's side.
Justice waited until he'd pulled away from the curb and driven two blocks before speaking. "I don't want you to be nervous."
She folded her arms around herself and, after glancing at him, looked out the windshield. "I'm not."
"Fibber," he teased. His heart pounded, he was already half-hard, but he didn't want her to be uncertain with him. "You know I want you, Fallon. So damned much. But that doesn't obligate you in any way. If you'd rather take this slow, I understand. It's your show, and if you want some time to think about things-"
"Things?"
Thinking about it stirred him. "Hot, sweaty, naked sex. With me."
When she drew in a sharp breath and blinked fast, Justice realized he shouldn't have been so blunt.
He smiled crookedly. "Sorry, honey, but no one's ever accused me of being smooth. You already know I want you. But I want you to want me, too. And until you do-"
"I do!" Then she frowned. And laughed. "Why do I keep saying that?" She didn't give him time to answer. "I want you just as much."
Justice blew out a relieved breath. "Best news I've heard in a really long time."
"It's just..." She waffled, cleared her throat. "The thing is, I've never... I mean, I almost did with Marcus, but then-"
"Yeah, let's don't go there, okay? If I hear the history of you and Marcus, I might get the urge to stomp on him a little, and I'd rather talk about you wanting me." He considered what she'd said. Curiosity and need sharpened to an acute ache softened only by tenderness. "You're telling me you're a virgin?"
She rushed into defensive explanation. "I was young, and then I got burned, and-"
"And you'll have to trust me that any guy would have been thrilled to get you horizontal."
She bit her lip and fell silent.
Sooner or later, Justice knew he'd get her to believe him. For now, though, she needed to know he understood. "But yeah, I get it. You've been reserved for a while." He shifted, wishing he could ease the restriction in his jeans because now he had a full-blown boner. "I get to be your first?" To himself he thought, your only. "Gotta say, that's pretty freaking awesome."
With a jittery laugh, she pressed her hands to her cheeks. After a moment or two, she asked around a relieved grin, "You really think so?"
Almost too turned-on to talk, Justice rolled one shoulder. "I mean, if you weren't, I'd be okay with that, too. God knows I'm as far from a virgin as a guy can get."
A scowl overshadowed her grin.
That made him chuckle. "I'm thirty years old, honey. I hope you weren't expecting a monk."
She put up her chin. "I'm not dumb. Of course I expected you to...have experience."
Done with that topic before he ruined her agreeable mood, Justice said, "So what do you think? My house?"
"Okay."
That squeaky voice got to him and he glanced at her. "In case you're wondering, I'm not going to rush you right to bed." No, he'd do a lot of kissing and touching first.
"Okay."
Still squeaky. He almost grinned, but instead shifted the subject to give her a different focus. "How weird will it be for your folks if you don't come home tonight?"
That stumped her. "I don't know. I've never done that."
Amazing. He knew she was twenty-four, almost twenty-five, but her life had been on hold for so long. Softly, Justice suggested, "You wanna call them and let them know?"
Watching him, she asked just as quietly, "Will I be spending the night?"
Hell, yeah. "I'd like for you to."
"You're sure?"
Justice gave it some thought. He hadn't made a habit of sleepovers. Whenever he did spend the whole night with a woman, it was out of convenience, and never with a woman like Fallon. More often than not, he leaned toward female fans who just wanted a notch on their bedpost. Like him, they wanted a little fun, a little relief and nothing more.
For so long, his focus had been on training. But not anymore. Now he could look at other things, like the future.
"Yup, I'm sure. Even if you aren't ready for everything I want-" and he wanted a lot "-I'd still enjoy keeping you close."
"You want me to sleep with you even if we don't..."
When she trailed off, Justice nodded. "Even if we don't have sex. What do you think?"
Reaching out, she lightly touched his shoulder. Her voice was as gentle as her touch. "I think I want everything, and yes, I'd love to stay over." She withdrew her hand and pulled her phone from her purse, then hesitated. "What should I say?"
Hell, he had no idea, not with parents like hers. "When I was nineteen and still living at home, and I knew I'd be out all night, I'd call my mom so she wouldn't worry." He glanced at Fallon. "I already told you she's an award-winning worrier, right? Anyway, I'd just hedge all her warnings by promising upfront that I'd be safe, I'd use protection and I'd be home for breakfast. That was her cue not to wait up for me."
"Would she do that?" Fallon asked with a smile. "Wait up?"
"Nah, but there were a few occasions when I forgot to call. I'd get home in the morning and she'd be passed out on the couch, snoring real loud, then she'd jerk awake with a start and almost fall on the floor. She'd start right in giving me hell and swearing she hadn't slept a wink all night." He laughed remembering it. "No matter how big I got, she claimed she could still give me a whoopin' if I needed it." The laughter faded to a slight smile. "So I tried to remember."