The Monroe Sisters

by Aliyah Burke

  “No need for me to make one, I agree with you. You were a coward.”

  A brief smile turned up his lips. “Of course, you wouldn’t argue that.”

  “Did you think I was going to make it easy on you?”

  “Kind of hoped what we just shared would have earned me a bit of leeway.”

  She yawned behind her small hand. “Sex wasn’t an issue between us. We burned up the sheets without any problem. That’s been the case since we first fucked in Mexico. We were discussing your problem with commitment.”

  His chest grew tight but he ignored it. If he wanted to keep this woman in his life, he had to face his feelings. “I want to be with you, Eva. More than I ever wanted to be with anyone. I began feeling that the moment we met. Each second I spent with you, it grew stronger, never once weakening.”

  She swallowed and tilted her head to the side. “So you’re saying that despite how much, how strong you wanted to be with me, when it came time for something as simple as a holiday meal, all your desires to be with me vanished without the simplest of trouble? Not only that, for whatever reason it made you not want to tell me you weren’t coming until you left the country? I can see how strong this desire is.”

  He coughed to cover his uncertainty. “Sarcasm deserved, I get that. But no, it wasn’t that simple. And it still kills me how I handled that situation.”

  “You didn’t handle it,” she admonished. “You ran.”

  “I did. Not proud of that. But I’m here now. Christ, Eva. I got off the flight back and immediately booked another one to Iowa, where I landed and went to your house then the hospital to find you. They wouldn’t give me anything, so I tracked down Tara, who I figured would still be at work. After she gave me a piece of her mind, she told me to come here and find you. So I did. I’m trying to make up for it.” His frustration grew, as her expression remained unchanged. Unimpressed with all the sacrifices he’d currently made. But it wasn’t only directed at her, this was an issue he’d brought upon himself because he’d been unable to face his feelings.

  Her silence filled the room.

  “So, that’s my reasoning for what I did. Tell me what I have to do, what I have to say to get us past this. I heard you about not being able to have children, I don’t care.”

  Eva shrugged. “I don’t know if there is a way beyond it. I don’t forgive easily.” She rose, shaking her head. “I need to get to the hospital. I’m sorry, Grant. Sorry you came all this way for nothing.”

  He sat there in disbelief as she backed away from him and put on her shoes. “So that’s it? You’re just going to walk away from what we have?”

  “We don’t have anything. We had something, not anymore.” She brushed her hands down her clothing and took a deep breath before staring at him once more.

  He read it in her eyes even prior to her saying another word. This was it for her. Unable, or unwilling, to hear it pass her lips, he leapt from the bed and lifted her in his arms, moving until the wall stopped his forward progress. “No,” he barked out.

  “No?” Honest confusion filled her expression. “No, what?”

  “I’m not letting you give up on us that easily.”

  Tears sprung to her eyes. “You think this was easy for me? Easy to give my heart and have you rip it free and stomp on it?” The tears never fell and the sadness segued into anger.

  Her agony tore at him, yet he refused to release her gaze. His cock rested against her core and he wanted nothing more than to sink it into her heat. There was no arguing when they made love. There was only pleasure. Only happiness. Only bliss. Perfection.

  “I’m right here, Eva, handing you mine. Giving you my heart. But more than that, I’m asking you to trust me with yours once more.”

  “To what end?” She hooked her legs around his waist, tighter. There wasn’t any way to deny the hope in her tone, the wistfulness.

  Still, he couldn’t ignore the fear and he knew that was because she was scared to trust him again. Scared he would hurt her again. “Marriage, growing old together. Lots and lots of sex.” He’d meant it in a teasing way that last sentence but didn’t even receive the barest hint of a smile.

  “Is that what this is supposed to be?”

  “What this are you talking about?” He lifted his eyebrows.

  “Is this blathering you’re doing right now supposed to be proposal?”

  He swallowed hard. “No, this isn’t a proposal. When that happens, I promise it will be done right.”

  “Sure, it will.” There could be no denying the doubt in her tone.

  He pushed into her, flexing his hips to rub his cock along the seam of her pants.

  Her lips parted with a sigh and she rocked back.

  “Focus, Eva. As much as I want to fuck you again, not happening until we get this cleared up.”

  “Then finish it up, so I can go.”

  “No, we’re not rushing just because you don’t want to discuss that I want a life with you.”

  She dragged her nails along his neck, skyrocketing his pulse. “You want a life with me? Want me to believe that this was more than a fling, that if you’d come to Christmas we would somehow be in a different place in what our relationship used to be? Prove it.”

  “I have nothing else to prove, Eva. I’m here, for you…that should be proof enough.”

  “You were supposed to be here for Christmas.”

  He clasped a hand around her neck and leaned in, so his lips nearly brushed hers. “You are frustrating and so fucking stubborn. I’m here, I came for you.”

  “And when you decide to leave? Are you going to tell me before or will I just wake up to find you gone without any note?”

  “I’m not leaving you again. Yes, I have to go back to Arizona, but I’ll do that to move to Iowa. Or here, if you’re wanting to be in Florida.”

  Her eyes widened.

  Finally, he was getting through. He nodded. “You heard me right. I can’t live without you in my life anymore. So if it takes me moving to be with you, so be it. I’ll move. I can work at a different hospital.”

  She held the wrist of his hand he had on her neck. “Put me down.”

  The fuck he wanted to do that, but he listened to her, continuing to keep her trapped between him and the wall behind her.

  “Why did you wait so long to tell me this?”

  “So long? I’ve been trying to get to you since before Christmas. You wouldn’t take any of my calls. My entire flight back was figuring out how to get you to answer me. My sister tried to call you and there wasn’t anything there either from you in the way of picking up the phone.”

  “No, I didn’t want to talk to her.”

  He swiped his thumb along her lower lip. “I don’t want to play games, Eva. I want my ring on your finger.”

  Looking troubled, she started shaking her head.

  Grant gripped her chin. “No. No more excuses. I love you. I’m in love with you. We don’t have to get married right now. I’ll get you an engagement ring, whatever you want, just give us a chance. You grabbed me from the first. And the more time we spent together, the deeper I fell. When you showed up at my father’s funeral and I asked you why, your answer was so simple, so heartfelt. You told me it was because I needed you. And you were right. I did then, and I do now.”

  Silence again. Torturing and seemingly infinite silence shouted at him. It stretched to a full minute but to him, it felt like days as moisture pooled in her beautiful eyes. What else could he say or do? She was going to shoot him down. She wasn’t—

  A smile peeked at the corners of her lips, then she kissed the pad of his thumb. “Just so you know, I want a killer engagement ring.” Her statement was accompanied by a full smile as her gaze softened.

  Relief flooded him as even he knew his heartbeat had reached an unhealthy pace. He lowered his head and kissed her. Then when he pulled away, he felt the tears in his own eyes. “You can have whatever type of ring you want. I love you, Eva.”

  “I love
you, too, Grant.” She wound her arms back around him and sank into him. “Now, I really have to go in and do my presentation.”

  “I’ll be here when you come back.”

  “Good, because I have some work for you to do.” Her hand covered his dick and gave a light squeeze.

  “We’ll be ready.”

  The moment she left the hotel room, Grant sat on the bed and released the longest, most heartfelt sigh ever in his life. He just sat and stared off into space for an indeterminate amount of time. He’d thought she was going to walk away, and he felt like death had come to his soul. He’d never been good at emotional talk, but he used up a lifetime’s worth today.

  He snapped out of it and knowing he must be the luckiest man on earth, he called his mother then his sister, letting them know the news. After which, he settled in to figure out what he was going to do, if they ended up in Iowa.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Are you sure about this, Eva?”

  She glanced over her shoulder to stare at the vase Grant held up for her. Tall at about twenty inches, and pale blue and rose-colored glass. “No.” She chuckled at his expression.

  “So put it into your third ‘maybe’ pile?” he asked.

  Eva scuffed her toe on the carpet. “Yes. And I think you may just be exaggerating a bit if you are claiming this is my third ‘maybe’ pile.”

  “Oh, no, definitely I am not. The first was there by the bay window. The second was behind the couch. Now if I’m doing this one, it will be here, by the hearth.”

  “It was a gift,” she pouted.

  “Everything in here is a gift from someone or another. The question is do you want to take them all with you? And I’m fine if you do, just would like to know one way or the other, so we can either pack them away or put them in that small pile of donations.”

  “What do you expect? I’ve lived here my entire life.” She faced the wall, determined not to start crying again. There would be enough of that when her sisters arrived this evening. She didn’t need to be doing that now. Not when she had tons of work to accomplish. It was just so damn hard.

  He slid his arms around her from behind and pressed a tender kiss to the side of her neck. “I know this is hard for you. You grew up here, went to school here, and have been practicing your entire career here.”

  Eva rested against him, settling her hands over his where they lay on her belly. “I know, plus I haven’t been away from my family like this.”

  “I told you we could have stayed here. I would have moved.”

  “I know but your mom isn’t doing the best, and with your sister having a baby, it’s best if we are there to help take care of her when it’s needed.”

  “You always think of other people. Do you ever put yourself first?” He whispered the question along the shell of her ear.

  Her heart did so many pitter-patters she was shocked he’d not heard any of it or seen that organ trying its best to escape from her chest. “I do. I’ll have you know I’m a very selfish and greedy person when it comes to sharing you.”

  Grant tightened his hold and nuzzled her neck, his scruff abrading along her sensitive skin. “That isn’t something you will have to worry about. Unless it’s my mom.”

  “I know.” She closed her eyes as he ran his thumb over the engagement ring on her finger. They’d been engaged for eight months now and he’d wanted to move in together. She was on board with that. This long-distance thing was damn near killing her.

  “Are you sure you want to move to Arizona?”

  “Of course, I’m not sure. My whole family is here. But I think it will be for the best. I’m excited to be going to the new hospital and they have some new procedures out there I’m looking forward to learning about so I can implement them.”

  He moved his hands down below the waistband of her pants, keeping along the outside of her thighs but it didn’t matter. His touch was a powerful aphrodisiac to her, it created within her such longing, such need. Her nipples pebbled and drew tight behind her bra. Her clit pulsed and she rubbed her legs together in a futile attempt to stem the craving for his caresses.

  “Have I told you today how fucking sexy you are?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?” He moved his hands in wide circles on her legs.

  “I’m dressed in sweats and a raggedy tank. Sweating and cursing. Sexy is not a word I would use to describe me at all.”

  “You don’t have to. I will. Hell, fuck that. I am using that very word. I love how you approach life, Eva. Everything is an adventure. Everything can be fun if you are surrounded with the right people and the right attitude. Like right now, I know you’re sad, I know you’re fighting back tears because you’re leaving your family. Yet through it all, you still effervesce. I can’t explain it. However, I will tell you that this sweats and tank top look works for you. Especially with the way it clings to your body. How the sweats curve around your ass and the tank highlights my breasts.”

  She laughed and nudged him. “These are not yours. I’m pretty sure these are my breasts.”

  He used a hand to pull her top away from her chest and peered down the front where he made some grunts and moans. “Nope.” He turned her in his embrace, so they were face to face. “These are mine.”

  She flashed a grin. “You have your own.”

  “Trust me, Eva. I don’t want to play with the ones on my body. I want to play with yours.”

  “See, now you got it right, these are mine.”

  He growled and snapped his teeth at her. “No.” Grant covered them with his hands. “Mine. See how they are straining into my touch?”

  She took one of his wrists and guided him down the front of her body until he cupped her core. “This is straining for your touch. So stop making it beg.”

  He rubbed along the seam of her sweats.

  It wasn’t nearly effective enough but regardless it was better than not having him do anything to her.

  “Is this mine, as well?”

  She rocked against him, desperate for increased friction. “Yes.” The word fell from her lips on a sigh.

  “So it’s all mine.” He dipped his head and flicked his tongue along the whorl of her ear. “All of it is mine. Tell me.”

  “And if I do?” Her body rebelled against her putting any sort of hesitation on its relief. She needed to have him grinding on her clit, bringing her to orgasm.

  “Then I will reward you by giving you what I know you want.”

  God, his voice, his words, pure temptation to sin and in the most decadent of ways. She trembled and dug her fingers into the side of his shirt, gathering it tightly. “Can’t you just give it to me, anyway?”

  “I could but I’m not going to, not until you tell me what I want to hear. Not until you agree with what I’d said about this being mine.” Back and forth, he moved his hand.

  His touch and hold on her had pretty much relaxed her legs to the state he was just mostly supporting her weight. “Yours.” The word was almost inaudible.

  “What was that?” He sucked on her neck.

  Eva had no doubt she would have a mark there tomorrow. “I said it’s yours. All of it. Me, breasts, pussy. All yours.”

  “And your heart?”

  “Definitely yours.”

  He slid his hand down the front of her pants and edged the panties over, allowing his fingers to tease the lips.

  She gasped and widened her legs. “More,” she begged.

  “Trust me, baby, there will be so much more.” He pushed his finger deep into her, the cream from her slit making it glide without pause.

  “Yes,” she cried, dropping her head backward to rest on his chest. “Fuck yes.”

  “Take your shirt off,” he ordered.

  Eva didn’t hesitate, just whipped it over her head and tossed it somewhere. She wasn’t wearing a bra, hated the things and never wore them at home if she could get away with it.

  Grant lifted his head and stared at her before dropping his ga
ze. “Such a beautiful sight. Just the same as when I first saw it in Mexico.” She squealed as he lifted her with one arm. Grant moved them to the wall and he put it at her back. Pushing another finger into her, he pistoned them in and out while he claimed her mouth. When she came hard around his fingers, he pulled them free and dragged them over her nipples.

  Eva held her breath as he flicked out his tongue and cleaned off the moisture he’d just applied. “I love how you taste.” Light teasing laps until there was no more of her essence on her tips, then he used harder, firmer swipes.

  She loved how he loved it. Closing her eyes, she just enjoyed his ministrations on her body. They started at the wall then moved.

  When she woke up hours later, they were curled up in the bedding on the floor of her bedroom, naked and limbs intertwined. There was sound out in her living room and she groaned, realizing that her sisters had already arrived and were waiting for them to emerge.

  This is going to be one hell of a night. Lots of being picked on, I’m sure.

  * * * *

  “You going to take care of her, correct?”

  Grant glanced down at Tara, the tiniest of the three Monroe sisters. She barely hit five feet, but he wouldn’t challenge her any day. She would easily be classified as a pit bull who was hungry and wanted the bone in your hand. “Of course.”

  She stared up at him with those almond-shaped eyes. The black color fathomless and he couldn’t read her expression. “The jury is still out on you, Grant. You hurt her once and she took you back. Do it again, you’ll never come back.”

  He outweighed this woman by a good buck-twenty, easy. Hell, he wasn’t even sure she topped the scales at one hundred pounds. But she delivered this ultimatum and threat without blinking an eye. “Another threat. I got it the first time. I don’t want to hurt her.”

  “First off, this isn’t another threat. Hell, it’s not even one. This is a promise. She’s our big sister and we protect our own.”

  “I’m going to be family. Doesn’t that award me any leeway?” He gave her a smile.

  Her gaze narrowed slightly before she recovered. “No, marrying into the family doesn’t mean a damn thing. You have to prove yourself.”