Cherry Hill 6: Love Shouldn’t Hurt


Prologue



“Well that was a long night,” York said to Harper as they locked up and headed to their cars with Ade.

“Sure was, and right back at it again tomorrow,” Ade said, and then waved goodnight.

Harper saw the deputy patrol car drive into the parking lot slowly. “Looks like your friend is making sure you’re getting home safely,” she teased York.

“What makes you think it’s for me?” York asked.

“Oh come on, York, give the men a break. It’s obvious they care about you.”

“Not interested, plus I’m too young for them.”

“In years maybe, but life experience and maturity, no way.” The patrol car pulled up and Deputy Finn McCuen smiled. “Late night, ladies?” he asked, but his eyes were on York.

“Yup,” York said, and then Ade honked his horn as he pulled past them slowly.

“See you tomorrow. Night, Finn!” Ade said, and left the parking lot as Finn gave a wave.

“Well. See you tomorrow,” Harper said and gave York a sympathetic smile. She understood that York was resistant to engage in any relationships. She liked to keep things simple, and she had trust issues. She also knew not to push considering Harper wasn’t exactly following the rules of Cherry Hill and was having a sort of secret relationship with four mercenaries. She sighed and pulled out of the parking lot as she saw Finn get out of the patrol car and York lean against her car. The McCuen men were good men, and they were ten-plus years older than York. She felt badly for York and hoped maybe she could let her guard down and let the McCuen brothers into her life. Considering her recent phone call from her mom, Harper knew York was embarrassed by her family, and also her past. We all do stupid shit, but a juvenile record would be hard to admit to two deputies, and two Marines, the other McCuen brothers.

As Harper made her way home, she thought about Ferrion, Broaden, Lextin and Snipe. She missed them. Six months and counting, and still no word. Like they would contact her if they had an opportunity? Who was she kidding? She absolutely hated when they left and despised the fact that they kept their relationship with her, for better lack of a word, a secret. No one knew what they shared. They had to sneak around, and she was starting to get tired of feeling like a sexual object, a bedmate instead of their woman.

The sex was incredible, though. A connection deep, but what did she have to show for it? An aching heart. As she pulled up along her driveway and to the small house she owned, she longed for things her friends had, and other people in Cherry Hill. Committed relationships, guardianship, and companionship on a daily basis instead of convenience. She signed on for this type of relationship when she said she was okay with no strings attached. She didn’t think she would fall in love with them. She thought it would ease her desires, and in between she would work, focus on business, and then enjoy when they came home from their missions. She wasn’t getting any younger, though. Twenty-six, and suddenly living in this town, watching other people achieve happiness, and she suddenly wanted more. Maybe she needed to call things off with them? The thought instantly made her heart ache something terrible and a pain form in the pit of her stomach. She was so stupid. She’d gotten herself into this mess, and there seemed to be no way out but pain.

She got into her house and didn’t bother to turn on all the lights. She headed to the bedroom after locking up and then began to undress. She started the water—a nice quick shower just to help her relax and sleep better. She stepped under the spray of hot water and nearly moaned. She was more sore than she thought, especially in her shoulders. She finished up, turned off, the faucet and then dried off and put on her robe. She turned off the lights and headed into the bedroom and gasped, feeling like her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

“Jesus Christ all mighty! What in God’s name are you doing here?” she asked as her eyes locked onto Broaden Dortry. She could hardly move. She was shaking from the shock of seeing the six-foot-plus muscular soldier in her bedroom. She wasn’t used to their sneaking into her place like resourceful soldiers do, and she felt guilty for thinking about ending things. Now that one of them was right here and in her bedroom, relief filled her heart.

He eyed her over. “Harper,” he said her name and closed the space between them. Immediately, she was in his arms and he was kissing her. All the instant fear and shock disappeared, and desire, hunger, happiness that he was back safe and sound, replaced it all. He pulled off her robe, cupped her breasts, and then deepened the kiss. She started to undo his shirt, and he lifted his mouth from hers and helped her. “Fuck, I missed you. Missed this sexy body and being inside of you.”

“I missed you, too,” she said, and her voice cracked. He squinted at her and she feared he would see and hear the sadness, the upset at this lifestyle they led. She swallowed hard, ignoring the sensations and just let go with Broaden like usual. Her thoughts went to the others as he now stood naked and pulled her into his arms, turned, and lowered her to the bed. He aligned his cock with her pussy and shoved right into her. They both moaned.

“Heaven. Fuck, I missed this. Missed you. Fuck,” he repeated, and began to thrust into her pussy faster and faster. She held onto his shoulders. He lowered his mouth to her lips and kissed her, then gripped her hands, pushing her arms above her head, and rocked his hips slowly while he stared at her body. The hunger in his eyes did her in and she came.

He kept pumping, thrusting, looking at her breasts, licking his lip. “It’s been too fucking long,” he said, and then thrust again and again. He pulled out, and then lowered down, spread her thighs and licked her cunt. He feasted on her cream that just kept flowing as if she never came before. This is what him and his brothers, his team, did to her. She grabbed his hair and head, ran her fingers through the shoulder length, brown locks and gripped them as she lifted her pelvis up against his mouth. He used his tongue to lick over her asshole as he pressed her thighs higher. He stood up, aligned his cock with her pussy as he held her legs upward, and the thrust into her again and again. He maneuvered his hands to her ankles, so her ass was off the bed, her legs up in the air against his shoulders as he stroked into her pussy over and over.

He was so big, so strong and powerful, he could manipulate her body to his liking and she loved that. Was turned on by his commanding, controlling ways and she felt that inkling of annoyance with herself for allowing such control. “You look so fucking hot. I missed this body. These big fucking tits and watching them bounce and sway while I fuck this pussy. Tell me you missed me, too. Tell me, Harper.”

“I missed you, too. Oh God, please,” she begged, and he pulled out, then covered her body and kissed her again. It was like he didn’t want to come yet.

He breathed in against her neck. “Baby, I need so bad,” he said, and she didn’t know what he meant, but before she could ask, he lifted up again, flipped her onto her belly, pulled her to the edge of the bed, and thrust into her pussy from behind. She moaned and came some more, felt his large, warm hands caress her shoulders, then down her back to her ass, massaging along the way. He spanked her several times.

Smack.

Smack.

Smack.

He thrust deeper, faster, and she felt on the edge of concerned, yet aroused by his dominance and aggressiveness, and then he came with a roar. He shook behind her, then pulled out, lifted her up and lowered back to the bed, holding her in his arms. They caught their breath and then he rolled half over her, his thigh between her thighs as he stared into her eyes and cupped her breast and played with her nipple.