Life Before Damaged, Vol. 5

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Title Page

  SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR!

  REGINA OR JENNY?

  UNDERCOVER JENNY

  THE PEACOCK & THE MANDESK

  THE DOCTOR OF LOVE WILL SEE YOU NOW

  BADASSERINA GINA

  MANLY URGES

  FLAME OUT

  IN THE SHADOWS

  LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE

  WTF?!?

  A WHAT-NOW?

  COMING SOON:

  COVER REVEAL:

  MORE FERRO FAMILY BOOKS

  MORE ROMANCE BY H.M. WARD

  CAN'T WAIT FOR H.M. WARD'S NEXT STEAMY BOOK?

  COVER REVEAL:

  LIFE BEFORE DAMAGED VOL. 5

  The Ferro Family

  By:

  H.M. Ward

  H.M. Ward Press

  www.SexyAwesomeBooks.com

  COPYRIGHT

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2015 by H.M. Ward

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.

  H.M. WARD PRESS

  First Edition: February 2015

  ISBN: 9781630350611

  LIFE BEFORE DAMAGED VOL. 5

  SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR!

  August 10th, 12:03am

  Before I know what’s going on, Pete grabs me by the wrist and pulls me from the dance floor. “Grab your things, we’re leaving.” He glances back at me and those deep blue eyes rake over my body. His voice drops and becomes a forced whisper, “Now.”

  I'm stunned for a moment. This is happening? This is really happening! Ah! I am so going to have filthy hot sex tonight. My only regret? Being too drunk to fully commit every detail to memory. I’m not naïve. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be yesterday’s news and he’ll move on to some other woman, but for tonight, he’s mine and I’m going to make every second count. Hopefully, Erin is right and after this tryst I’ll move forward and put this crazy infatuation behind me. Because this is just a lusty dream. There’s nothing more, not with Pete Ferro. I’d be insane to fall in love with him, I mean look at this—he’s jerking me off the dance floor, practically growling. I’m finally the booby blonde. I let out a little eeep. My hands slap to my mouth to cover the sound.

  Pete’s badass face breaks into a crooked grin. “What was that?”

  I shake my head and shrug my shoulders, letting my hands fall to my sides. My face is burning bright red, so I lower my gaze to the floor. Pete takes my chin in his hand and tilts my head up. Our gazes meet and he leans in close before breathing in my ear, “Get your coat.”

  Don’t giggle. Don’t giggle. My mouth twitches, but I manage to keep the hysterical glee in my stomach. I don’t mean to, but as I attempt a sexy, hip-swaying saunter away from him, it turns into something else. Three steps further and I’m skipping. I pretty much slam into the bar to stop, grabbing my bag and coat. My elegant move catches Ricky’s attention.

  Placing my palms on the bar, I hoist myself up and lean over the wood to give Ricky a quick kiss on the cheek. “See you later, alligator!” I drop down and feel a rush of air swish my skirt up a little bit. It makes me want to dance more but when I turn around and see Pete, I remember what I’m doing.

  When Ricky glances up to see who I’m leaving with, he frowns. “I don’t like this, doll. That cat is bad news. You got your phone with you?” Ricky wipes the bar with a damp cloth, removing sticky traces of alcohol and fruit juice. If he rubs any harder, he’ll strip the thick varnish off.

  Yanking on my coat, I shrug off his disapproving look and pull the hood over my head. Ricky is being a silly old worry wart. He’s leaning against the bar, just within reach, giving me a super sourpuss. I give his cheek a reassuring pat, but Ricky cringes and I pull my hand back. I might have touched him a bit too hard. You shouldn't hear a slapping sound when patting someone. I’m suddenly laughing again. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to bitchslap you.” I point to my tiny guns and push on the muscle, trying to beef it up, “They don’t look like much, but once in a while I underestimate their strength.” When his mood remains static, I frown at him. “I’ll be fine and yes, I have my phone. Why?” I don’t plan on turning my phone on. Too many bad feelings and I don’t want to listen to voicemails. Right now, I want to feel good and I know Pete can do that for me.

  “You call me if you need me, okay?” Ricky tosses the rag over his shoulder and it lands perfectly in a little bucket on the floor behind him. How does he do that? I swear the guy has the most amazing coordination I’ve ever seen.

  “I will.”

  Before I can turn around, there’s a familiar hand on my shoulder. Pete’s deep voice follows. “Is there a problem?”

  Ricky glares at him, jaw tight, but locked shut. Normally he'd say no and smile, but Ricky’s normal carefree attitude is gone. If they were girls, they’d be pulling hair and clawing each other right now.

  “There’s no problem as long as you don’t hurt my girl. If you do, you’ll deal with me.”

  Pete laughs. It’s one harsh breath. His hand tightens on my shoulder as he looks Ricky over. “Your girl is leaving with me, so that would make her my girl. Back off. If you don’t, I’ll make you.”

  “Hey,” I put a hand on Pete’s chest to calm him down and push him back. When did he get so close to the bar? But I can’t make him budge. The man is a moose. I giggle as the thought of moving a moose crosses my mind. I can see four legs up in the air and the thing tied to my back with rope as I walk hunched over like an aerodynamic ninety-year-old.

  Ricky’s attitude clicks up a level. “She’s not your girl. She’s wasted and only assholes and losers take a girl home when she’s drunk. Since I know you’re both, I think you should leave her here and walk away.” While Ricky talks, he pushes a finger against Pete’s chest.

  Bad move. Not good. “Guys, stop! Ricky, I know him.”

  “So do I,” Ricky bites back, not bothering to look at me.

  Pete’s shoulders square off and I feel the way his arms ripple like he wants to rip Ricky’s head off. “I’m not leaving her here so you can finally get her alone.”

  “I’ve been alone with her, dickwad. You have no idea what the fuck you’re—”

  I laugh and cut Ricky off. “Not like that! Stop messing with him, Ricky. You know Pete likes to punch pretty faces and it’d be a shame to do damage to yours. Pete, I’m all yours. Let’s go.” I fasten my coat as I speak. When I look up, I catch Pete and Ricky staring at each other with that guy stare like they're throwing punches with their eyeballs.

  Placing a hand on Pete’s arm, I lean in close to his ear and whisper, “I’d rather you spent the night touching me than punching him. Let’s go.”

  That ends it. Pete escorts me to the parking lot and I see that he’s brought his car, not his motorcycle. He fishes his keys from out of his pockets and opens my door. I duck into my seat and after he closes the door and gets into his side, he looks at me, raising an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

  My disappointment is obviously plastered across my face. I guess the protruding bottom lip, stuck out in an exaggerated pout will do that. “No. No problem. I was kind of hoping to take a ride on your bike tonight. That’s all.” I shrug.

  Pete looks through the windshield and says with a questioning grin, “It’s raining," as if I am a moron, too stupid to notice the weather.

  “And? I’ve seen you ride that thing, mister!�
� I’m all pointy fingers as I talk. “You don’t look like the kind of person who’ll stop himself from doing something dangerous like riding a bike in torrential rain.”

  “True. But I’m not going to bring a woman back on my bike when it’s raining, and leaving alone is never an option.” He gives me a wink.

  REGINA OR JENNY?

  August 10th, 12:31am

  Oh. My stomach drops into my shoes and I try to hide it by looking out the window, my mind wandering back to unpleasant thoughts. They vanish quickly, though, when he starts the car and backs up so fast that he leaves half his tires on the pavement. Pete shifts gears and we take off at spaceship speed, not slowing down to accommodate surrounding motorists. Pete cuts everyone off, weaving his way through whatever traffic gets in his way. I hold my breath and reach for the leather oh-shit-strap, wanting to hold on for dear life.

  “Don’t,” Pete growls without looking at me. My hand is half way to the strap.

  “Sorry, I don’t want to die before I get laid.” Did I just say that out loud? I’m about to crawl under the seat when Pete cuts across the lane into oncoming traffic to pass another car. Fuck it! I grab the strap and hang on as we swerve back into our lane.

  Next time I look over at Pete, there’s a lazy smile on his face. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “Neither can I. But let’s face it, that would suck.”

  Pete laughs and loosens his death grip on the wheel. We sit in silence and when Pete hits the highway, I finally release the strap and sink back into my seat. Fondling my phone, I wonder what Anthony’s doing at the moment. Did he love me at all?

  Did he kick Kitty out when he realized I’d caught him? Is he still trying to reach me? Has he called my parents yet? How long has he been cheating on me? The questions just keep coming and I want them to shut up. I’m past the point of crying. In fact, I feel empty inside. Like someone took a chunk of my life and just tossed it out the window like trash. Anthony will never propose, he’ll never become my husband, we’ll never have those kids I’d imagined.

  My future is a blank canvas and it’s not an entirely bad feeling. In fact, it feels surprisingly good. I can be whoever I want to be from now on and right now, I want so badly to be the object of someone’s desire. It’ll override the complete rejection lingering inside of me. If I were different, if I were prettier, he wouldn’t have cheated.

  I’m surprised when my door opens and Pete extends a hand, to help me out of the car. Once upright, I wobble on my heels a bit and it takes a while to register we’re back at the Ferro mansion.

  My jaw drops. “This is your house.” So not a good sign. Pete Ferro doesn’t take women back to his house for booty calls. He told me that himself. Why would he bring me here then? The only reason that comes to mind is that he has no real intention of sleeping with me, after all. This is not his slut palace.

  “Yeah, I kind of realized that.” Pete’s tone is unreadable. I can’t tell why he took me here. I thought he wanted me. My heart drops into my shoes as I realize he was just trying to save me from the frat boys.

  “Maybe I wanted to be Jenny.”

  “What?” Pete glances sideways at me and takes my hand, tugging me toward the door.

  I yank my hand free. “I mean it. How do you know what I want? Don’t make assumptions. You’re not my mother and if I want to nail a frat boy, leave me to it!”

  Pete looks back and forth. There’s a servant standing nearby, no smile on his face, still as stone. Pete sighs and talks slowly, “Does Jenny want a frat boy? Or a Ferro? Because no matter how sloshed you are there’s no way in hell you’re getting both.”

  My fear falls away. “You want me?”

  “Not in the driveway, but it’s worth your while to come inside and find out.” Pete is being sweet. I doubt he’d put up with this from one of his booby blondes. They’re all sugar and would have been ear-fucking him all the way out here. I was staring out the window wondering why my boyfriend cheated on me. My mind wasn’t on Pete at all.

  I nod and take his hand.

  As we head to the door, the servant that’s been watching my hissy fit moves forward to take the car off to the garage. Pete helps me up the few steps to the front door and motions for me to be quiet. He leads us down the now slightly familiar hallways, towards his wing of the house and opens a door into a room I haven’t seen yet. Based on smell alone, I know it's his bedroom.

  Maybe he is breaking his rules, after all.

  “Stop worrying.” His words make me realize I’ve been holding my breath. “Look around, jump on the bed, and make yourself at home.”

  “Does that mean strip? Because sometimes a guy says make yourself comfy and he means take your clothes off. What do you mean? Because I’m super confused right now and—”

  “Jenny.”

  “Yes.”

  “Stop talking.” I nod and shut my mouth. That’s when I finally look around. There’s a bed. A king sized bed with thick wooden posters that spiral up into the air. I shiver looking at it. My mind starts going wild, imagining all the things he could do, will do, to me in that bed. Pete closes the door behind us and steps forward to help me out of my wet coat.

  “So what is this? Are you breaking your rules again, Ferro?”

  “You have no idea, Granz. I’ll go hang this up for you.” He takes the raincoat and disappears in the ensuite bathroom.

  Ok, Gina. Are we doing comfy or comfy? I stop thinking because I can’t stop staring at his bed. It’s huge and fluffy. The mattress is calling to me, saying jump on me, Gina. I can’t resist. I run at it and jump, falling from the air and hitting the bed spread-eagle, face down. I giggle like a lunatic and hug a pillow before I flip over. I sigh and notice Pete leaning against the bedpost, his arms folded over his chest. He laughs softly.

  “Going for the subtle spread-eagle or was that seriously a face-plant into my pillows?” He grins, revealing his dimple, and a strand of dark hair falls across his face.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Pushing off his bed, I start to walk toward him, making sure I sway my hips. I'm smooth for all of two seconds before one of my heels gets caught in the plush rug on the floor and I stumble. Luckily for me, Pete is quick and catches me before I end up face first on the floor, making a bigger ass of myself than I already have.

  "Feeling suicidal tonight? Weren’t you dancing in those?" He holds me tighter and smirks, making me want to lick that dimple right off his face. I didn’t think I had a thing for dimples. Pete is watching me closely. “So is this Gina or Jenny? Did you escape from somewhere? Is there an ax in your purse that I should be afraid of?”

  I giggle and snort laugh and it’s not seductive at all. “I wish I could break free.” My voice is hollow and flat. Even while drunk, that subject is a sore spot.

  Seeming to realize his mistake, Pete cups my face with his warm hands and tips my head back. “You’re free with me. I won’t force you to be someone you’re not and I suspect the real you is more Jenny than anyone realizes.”

  I smile at him, uncertain. “No one knows what it feels like, how suffocating it can be. Then things happened and I’m sick of waiting for the right moment, you know? What if it never comes? Or what if it came and went and I was too dense to see it? I can’t be Regina Granz forever.” I shiver as the corners of my mouth turn down. The thought makes me sick.

  His soft, sweet voice falls upon me like a caress. “I know what you mean, every bit of it. Every failed expectation is a noose. Every social outing is a witch hunt and I feel lucky if I can manage to sneak away.” His timing is as perfect as his words.

  “And find a fireplace mantel?” Pete’s cheeks flush as his eyes dip to my neckline. “Oh my God, is the great sexy man beast blushing?”

  “I don’t blush, I just get hot and bothered. Like right now, with you—I’m very hot and very bothered.”

  The butterflies in my stomach wake up with those words. His arms around me are freeing, a heavenly escape from reality. I look up an
d give him a shy smile and spread my hands across the front of his shirt. Going up on my tiptoes and leaning in closer toward his ear, I whisper, with what I am hoping is a seductive voice, "What are you planning on doing about it, Ferro? Should we jump on the bed?”

  “Only if you’re under me.”

  “I see.” I purposefully exhale the words towards his ear. It takes all the courage I have to drop a small kiss on his neck, followed by a tiny bite. It’s really just dragging my teeth along the skin as I close my jaw, not painful at all. I feel his hands tighten around my arms and his head dip towards my neck.

  His lips brush the skin, but he doesn’t do anything. He just stays there. This is progress, but I need to up the stakes a bit more.

  I push him back a step. The look on his face is ecstasy and agony wrapped into a sexy body that’s wound too tight. He’s going to snap and when he does, I can’t wait. The thought leaves me breathless. The hungry kisses and passionate touches I imagined will be nothing compared to what he’s about to do. I can sense it.

  His lips are slightly parted and his tongue darts out to moisten them. His eyes have taken on a lustful darkness and his chest is rising and falling more rapidly than it was just seconds ago. A rush of excitement goes through me as I realize I really can have this kind of effect on a man. And not just any man, but Pete. I refuse to give Kitty another thought. Anthony is gone.

  I take a couple steps back until the backs of my knees bump into the bed behind me. The rain is pounding on the window panes. There’s an occasional burst of light, followed by increasingly loud thunder, making the atmosphere even more electric.

  Pete looks away, breaking the connection. My stomach goes into freefall when he says my name.