Holding Mia

by Terri Anne Browning

  Love shone out of those big green eyes, and she lifted her hips, rubbing herself against my ever-growing erection. “I have a suggestion.”

  Laughing through my tears, I lifted a brow. “Only one?”

  “Several, actually,” she purred. “But they all involve you being balls deep inside me right this second.”

  All I had on was the shorts I’d worn to fight in the night before. When I’d rushed after her, I hadn’t even thought to grab a shirt. Her panties were easy to get rid of, and as soon as her bare pussy was revealed to me, I shoved down my shorts and thrust deep into her sweet haven.

  “Fuck,” I gritted out, taking a moment in a weak attempt to gain some control over the need raging through me. “This feels like coming home after a long deployment.”

  “That…” She moaned and lifted her hips, fucking herself on my cock. “That’s good?”

  “Best feeling in the world, baby,” I assured her reverently.

  “Oh gods. I’m coming already.”

  “That’s it. Come for me, firecracker. Let me feel it.”

  “No,” she whined, shaking her head wildly from side to side. “Not yet.”

  “Yes, now. Come for me. I swear to you, it will only be the first of many today.” Lowering my head, I sucked on her neck, nipping at her sensitive flesh. “I’ll stay balls deep in this pussy all day if you want me to.”

  Her nails scored down my back, pulling a pleasure-filled, agonized groan from me. “I want,” she whimpered. “I want.”

  “Then come for me, my sweet Mia.”

  “Barrick, it feels so good.”

  I thrust a little harder into her, but I kept my pace steady. Her lashes lowered as a pitiful little cry left her. “Eyes on me,” I growled, needing to see those emerald-like greens.

  Her eyes snapped open, her mouth stretched in a soundless scream as her inner walls clamped down on me like a vise just before her release rolled through her. “Oh gods,” she cried, her pussy contracting around me in a powerful orgasm. “I love you. Barrick, I love you so much.”

  Chapter 23

  Mia

  It was late before either of us surfaced from our lovemaking coma. By that time, Jordan had blown up my phone a hundred different times.

  Feeling guilty because he’d flown out to see me and celebrate my birthday with me, I called him and asked him to meet us at Jameson’s, then texted Braxton to meet us there too. It was time my best friend met the other guys in my life.

  Barrick groaned, rolling over onto his back as he watched me move around the room in nothing but a towel. “I have to go home to change,” he grumbled.

  “Go ahead,” I encouraged. “I’m going to need a little while to do my hair and makeup.”

  “Only if you let me take a few boxes of your things back with me,” he negotiated. “That way, we won’t have as much to move tomorrow.”

  Hands on my hips, I turned to frown at him. But the glower I had for him lost some of its power when my towel fell to the floor at my feet. “Excuse you. We have plans. Stop wasting time wanting to pack me up. This stuff will be here tomorrow.”

  “But I want you moved in now,” he said with a pout, looking equal parts sexy and adorable as he pushed out that bottom lip while his dark eyes skimmed over my nakedness appreciatively.

  I sighed in faux irritation. Sometime during our marathon of make-up sex, I’d agreed to move back in with him. This time officially, not just calling it an indefinite sleepover like before. “One case of clothes,” I conceded. “And only because I need something to wear tomorrow so we can come over here and pack up the rest of the room.”

  Grinning because he’d gotten his way, he jumped out of bed, just as naked as I was. Swinging me up into his arms, he kissed the breath out of me before placing me on my feet once more. A little unsteadily, I took a step back.

  “Shit. Sorry, baby.” He picked me up again and carried me over to the bed. Grabbing the brace I’d taken off to shower, he put it on me and then kissed my shoulder. “Are you hungry? I’ll grab you something to eat on my way back to get you if you want.”

  My stomach growled hungrily, but I shook my head. “How about we just have dinner with Jordan? I feel really bad about abandoning him when he flew out to spend time with me for my birthday. When I left him this morning, it was only to shower and change clothes.”

  “Fine. A drink at Jameson’s and then we can either go to dinner or pick up takeout and go back to our place.” After kissing me again, he stood, looking for his discarded shorts.

  Shamelessly, I watched him bend and then pull the shorts up his legs. When he caught me gaping at him, he smirked. “Stop drooling, firecracker.”

  “I really wish you had something else to wear,” I complained. Walking over to my closet, I started pulling things out. Spotting one of his shirts that Braxton had packed for me by accident, I laughed triumphantly and tossed it at him.

  He caught it easily and pulled it over his head. “Better?”

  I looked down at his lower body. His erection was tenting his shorts, and if he turned around, I knew his ass would be molded against the material. “Not even a little,” I grumbled, turning back to look through the rest of the closet for something to wear to the bar.

  “I like when you get jealous,” he confessed as he came up behind me. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he bent his head to kiss my neck. “But you don’t ever have to worry. You have my heart, Mia. No one else matters.”

  “Still don’t like other chicks looking at what’s mine.”

  “Fuck yeah, it’s yours. Every part of me.” He cupped my sex, pressing his hardness into my hip. “All yours and only yours.”

  Even though we’d made love countless times all day long, and I couldn’t even remember how many orgasms he’d pulled from me, I was ready for him then and there. But with a groan, he stroked his thumb over my clit one more time and stepped back. “If I don’t go now, neither of us will be leaving this room tonight.”

  Kissing the back of my head, he stepped around me, grabbed my largest case and carried it over to the bed. Two trips to and from the closet left me with even fewer options to wear for the night. Next, he walked over to the dresser and started emptying out my underwear drawer.

  “Wait!” I cried, grabbing a bra and a pair of matching panties before he left me with nothing.

  “Jeans,” he said as he zipped up the case. “And a hoodie. Preferably one down past your knees.”

  Rolling my eyes at him, I pulled out a pair of jeans. But instead of the hoodie, I grabbed a crop top and a jacket. Seeing my selection, he tensed his jaw. “I’ll be back in an hour. Do not go anywhere without me.”

  Sighing, I pulled the shirt over my head then walked up to him. “Listen, Barrick. We have to get something straight right now. You are my boyfriend, not—I repeat—not my bodyguard. I will go anywhere I want, when I want. With or without you.”

  He dropped the case on the floor with a thump and grabbed my hips. “Let me clarify something for you, firecracker. I am the man who loves you more than anything or anyone else on earth. You are not only the woman I love and want to spend forever with, but also the most precious and valuable thing that I can say is mine. If something happened to you, it would kill me. If someone touched you or tried to harm you, I would most likely spend the rest of my life in prison. So, for my sanity and the safety of the public in general, do not push me on this shit.”

  The irritation I’d felt at his ordering me around like my bodyguards had in the past dissolved, leaving me a gooey, melted mess leaning against him. “Okay,” I breathed, tilting my head back to accept his kiss.

  His brow pinched skeptically. “Okay? No arguing?”

  “Who could argue with that? I think I fell a little more in love with you just now.”

  --

  Jordan was already at the bar when we got there. I made a quick introduction between him, Barrick, and Braxton. Braxton was a little stiff at fi
rst, but he quickly lightened up when I told him that Jordan had talked me into staying before Barrick and I even had made up.

  The bar was crowded given it was Saturday night. While they talked and got to know each other at a table on the second floor, I went down to the bar to get a glass of ginger ale.

  “Well, if it isn’t my favorite redhead,” Eddie greeted when he saw me. “What will it be tonight, darlin’?”

  “The usual, please.” He grabbed a tall glass, filled it with ice and soda, then handed it over. I took it with a smile, knowing better than to offer to pay. Every time I had in the past, he would get grumpy about it. Even when I tried to tip him, he would scowl at me until I’d eventually given up.

  Leaning his elbows on the bar top, Eddie grinned. “Glad to see you here with the boys, girly. Barrick came in one night earlier in the week, and I thought for sure he was going to take on every guy in the bar. He was in a pissy-ass mood. Someone said you two broke up. Doesn’t look like much of a breakup to me.”

  I took a sip of my drink while I contemplated what he said. Was it really only a week that Barrick and I had been broken up? It felt like much, much longer. A lifetime, really. Every day without him had been miserable, even with him following me around.

  “We had a fight,” I finally told the bartender. “But we’re good now.”

  “That’s good. Didn’t like the thought of you hurting because of that boy.” Someone at the other end of the bar called out to get his attention, and Eddie gave me a nod before heading over to see what they wanted to drink.

  Thirstily, I finished up my drink and set down the glass. Looking up at the second floor, I spotted Barrick, and our eyes locked. I gave him a flirty little wave then pointed at the bathroom to let him know that was where I was going. When he nodded in acknowledgment, I blew him a kiss, making him grin, and moved through the crowd toward the ladies’ room.

  There was a line, so I waited by pulling out my phone. Noticing I had a new message from my mom, I called her since the line didn’t seem to be moving.

  “What’s up, Momma?” I asked when she answered on the second ring.

  “Hey…” She paused then spoke quickly. “You sound awfully happy. Let me guess. Jordan is there.”

  “I’m assuming Alexis or Aunt Gabs told you he was going to visit me and you don’t actually have psychic abilities,” I said with a laugh. “Jordan got here last night. But that isn’t the only reason I’m in such a good mood.”

  “Let me guess again… You and the security heir are once more?”

  “Okay, that’s kind of spooky. Stop it.”

  Her laughter was music to my ears. “It was just a guess. But honestly, I knew you two wouldn’t be broken up for long.”

  “Why is that?” I asked curiously.

  “For one, he was just the middleman in the whole thing. He was hired for a job. Your dad was the one who set it up. I’m not saying Barrick wasn’t at fault, just saying he didn’t do it maliciously.”

  “If you say so. I considered both him and Daddy equally at fault, but I guess you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. You forgave the boy but haven’t even spoken to your dad yet, have you?” she reminded me.

  The line moved a little, and I stepped forward. “Why else did you know we wouldn’t be broken up for long?”

  “Because I saw the way he looked at you when we showed up in Georgetown. Like his entire life flashed before his eyes. He is so in love with you, it felt wrong to look at him when he looked at you.” She sighed dreamily. “Your father still looks at me like that.”

  Another stall opened, and the line moved. “I take it you and Daddy made up as well?”

  “You know it. No sooner did we get home than—”

  “Whoa, let me stop you right there, lady. I don’t need those images in my head, thank you very much.” Her laughter filled my heart. “I’m glad you two made up.”

  “Me too. I hate being mad at him.”

  The line moved once again, putting me in front. “I’d love to chat, Momma, but I’m about to go into the bathroom here at Jameson’s. Did you need something?”

  “Jameson’s?” she asked, and I could actually picture her frowning. “What’s that?

  “A local bar. And before you ask, no, I’m not drinking anything harder than ginger ale. You can ask the owner. Eddie will tell you that all I ever order is soda.”

  The other end of the line was so quiet all of a sudden, I thought maybe the call dropped, but then I heard her release a shuddery breath.

  “Momma?” I asked, concerned. “You still there?”

  “I-I called to let you know Dad and I will be flying out Monday morning and will be taking you to dinner. Invite…” She swallowed loudly before continuing. “Invite anyone you want to join us.”

  “Do you have to bring Daddy?” I grumbled, not in the least bit thrilled to see my father. Even if I did miss him like crazy, I wasn’t ready to forgive his part in everything.

  “Mia!” she scolded. “It’s your birthday. Your dad messed up, but he loves you and wants to see you. We’ve never not been with you to celebrate your birthday.”

  “Fine,” I gave in petulantly. “I have to pee, Momma.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll talk to you later. Enjoy your time with Jordan, and I’ll see you Monday.”

  One of the stalls opened, and I walked toward it. “Okay. Love you.”

  I hung up to her repeating the words.

  Once I was done, I washed my hands before heading back to Barrick.

  Outside the bathroom, I saw Eddie walking into his office that was down a narrow hall past the supply closet. The office door opened just before I glanced away, showing me the inside of it for the first time.

  Seeing a picture, I frowned and took off down the hall, needing to see if what I saw was a trick of the light or my own imagination…

  Or reality.

  My heart pounding, I reached the door just as it started to close, and I pushed it open, stepping in as Eddie let out a curse.

  All the air was suddenly pushed from my lungs as if someone had forced it out of me as I glanced from one picture to another behind his desk. My mind couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing.

  Pictures, or rather newspaper clippings, were framed and hung on the walls or propped up on the bookshelf beside binders for his taxes. All of them of my mother. Some of them of her with Daddy, or me and Jagger, or one of my uncles, but there was no mistaking they were of her.

  “What the fuck is this?” I exploded, turning to face the bartender.

  His hands held up cautiously, he took a step forward, but I quickly took two back, afraid of him.

  “I can explain,” he rushed to assure me. “It’s not what you think.”

  “I-I don’t know what to think,” I stuttered, glancing back at the frames. This was some kind of weird, scary stalker bullshit, and I knew I needed to run far, far away from this man. Yet my feet felt rooted to the spot.

  “Ember Jameson is my daughter,” he said in a strangled voice. “I’m your grandfather, Mia.”

  “No,” I whispered. “No. My mother never knew her father. And her mother…” I shuddered, remembering all the horrible things Momma once told me her mother did to her when she was a little girl. The drugs. The men. The broken bones.

  Angrily, I turned on him. “Did you hurt my mother too?” I demanded, stepping forward. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do to him, but I wanted him to hurt as badly as that little girl Momma had been once had.

  “Hurt…? Hurt my little Emmie?” he choked out, shaking his head. “I never would have harmed a hair on her head. She was my baby girl. I loved her—love her—with every part of my heart.”

  “Then where were you when she was being abused?” I yelled. “Where were you when she needed her father?”

  “Searching for her!” he exploded, just as angry as me now. “Her mother and I were getting a divorce, and I came home from work o
ne day to find the house packed up and my little girl gone. I searched all over for her, and when I couldn’t find either of them, I called the cops. But they wouldn’t help me. No one would help me.” The last words were whispered, complete and utter heartbreak in his green eyes.

  The first time I’d met Eddie, there was something about him that was eerily familiar, and now I understood why. It was small things, but I realized he looked subtly like Momma. Which meant he looked like me too because everyone said I was her clone.

  “Then when she was about fifteen, she suddenly was in magazines and newspapers and on television. All because of Demon’s Wings. They adopted her, and from what they were telling everyone, Jesse Thornton was her half brother, meaning his dad was her father. I was pissed, because that was my little girl. But when I got to the concert they were at and I saw her with those boys, I realized how happy she was. If I made noise about her being mine and took her away from those damn rockers, I knew she would hate me. Lord knows what kinds of fucked-up shit her mother told her about me. Call me a coward, but I couldn’t face my little Emmie’s hate. So I came home and prayed to every damn god I could think of that she would want to find me one day.”

  His hand waved toward all the pictures. “Every time she was in the news, I cut out her picture and put it here or in my bedroom at home. It made me feel like I was still a part of her life, just at a distance. The day she had you was one of the happiest of my life. Then her wedding day, and later on, my grandson’s birth. I followed every moment of her life I could.”

  Slowly, everything he’d just told me began to digest, and I felt tears sting my eyes. “I wish you would have found her when she was little. She needed you so much. But… But maybe if you had, she wouldn’t have met my dad. She never would have become their manager. There might not have been a Mia or a Jagger.”

  His sigh was sad and heavy. “I know. I think about that all the time. The what-ifs kill me. Selfishly, I want that time back, but I wouldn’t ever want to take you or your brother away from her.”