by Alina Jacobs
I said a blessing, then everyone lined up to be served food.
"Don't you dare eat until everyone is served," I hissed at Billy. He promptly set his fork down and stared at me, eyes wide.
"See," Greg said, "you're a natural."
"This is uncanny," Garrett told me. "The last time I was here for a family meal, there was an honest-to-goodness food fight."
"There will be no food fighting," I said with a frown. "They will be civilized. We made so many mistakes with Archer."
"Hey!" my brother yelled from where he was helping Andy cut up his ham.
Mace sat down across from me with his plate. There was a nice low hum of more or less civilized conversation.
"I'm in shock," Mace said. "This is almost unnerving. They're all dressed and sitting in their seats."
"You have to have the Hunter Svensson touch," Liam said with a smirk.
Greg grimaced. "The last time I was here, one kid was literally sitting on top of the bookshelf, completely naked, gnawing on a piece of jerky. Things had really devolved."
We tried to do presents again after dinner. Garrett and Liam handed each kid his gifts.
"Make note of who gave you what. You will be writing thank-you notes after this," I informed them.
"So," Greg said. I had enlisted Tristan, and Eli, who were home from college, to take the little kids outside to play with their new toys. "Are we all in agreement that Hunter should stay here?"
I looked up at the cracked plaster ceiling. Once, the sprawling estate had been the talk of the Northeast. Now it was a daycare, basically. A perfect analogy to my life, it seemed.
Mace looked at me. "Hunter, you have to move back."
"Okay," I said finally. "Okay, I will. I have to finish up something in New York first, but then I'll move back."
Mace spontaneously hugged me. I was reminded of when we were kids and he would run to me when he was scared.
"I need to make a phone call," I told them, standing up. "And meet with someone."
"Say hi to Meg for me!" Archer called after me.
23
Meghan
Later that night after playing board games my sisters, I was lying in bed about to drift off to sleep when I heard knocking on my window. I shrieked when I saw a man outside it.
"Ho ho ho," he whispered. "Can I come in your chimney?"
"Hunter, what on earth?" I whispered. I opened the window, letting the cold air in. "Shhh," I hissed as he stumbled in and kissed me.
"I can't stop thinking about you," he murmured.
My heart was pounding. I wanted him. I nodded before leaning in to kiss him, lips soft and with a sharp sweetness like he’d eaten a pomegranate for a midnight snack.
"I love kissing you," I said against his mouth. My heart seized as I realized how stupidly happy Hunter made me feel.
Hunter laughed and kissed me hard, our tongues tangled in a passionate rush. His hands were everywhere, and my breathing turned to panting.
We quickly pulled off our clothes, then we were naked in my twin bed. Hunter was huge over me as he kissed his way down my bare chest. His tongue was warm as he kissed the mounds of my breasts. He looked up at me, grey eyes sparkling silver in the moonlight that streamed from the window. His eyes were mischievous, and his gaze filled me with warmth. I wondered what it would be like to see those eyes every day for the rest of my life. Then I realized that was what I yearned for. I yearned to be with him; he was kind with his brothers, strong when he needed to be. I bit down on the three little words that threatened to gush out of me.
Hunter kissed his way down, down. I sucked in a breath as he sucked on my clit. His pace was slow as he deliberately licked me. The hot, wet flesh between my legs felt swollen and taut, and I moaned as he slid two fingers into my opening.
He moved back up, I could feel his cock heavy on my thigh. He kissed me as he put on a condom.
I caught his lip in my teeth as his huge cock filled me. I kissed the spot where I’d bit him, keeping my eyes open to gaze into his as he thrust into me. One large hand on my hip pulled me toward him. I wrapped my legs around him so he could go as deep as possible.
I came saying his name, my teeth clenched as he continued to thrust into me, coming a few moments later. He hugged me to him, and I clung to him to keep from falling off of the small bed.
"This is so domestic," Hunter said, kissing my temple.
I wrinkled my nose. "Sixteen-year-old me would have a fit if she knew I was bringing random guys to hook up in my bedroom."
"I'm not random."
"I've only known you for a few weeks."
"But you know every inch of me." Hunter smiled then flopped onto his back. I traced the patterns of his abs.
"You should move out here," Hunter said, looking up at the ceiling.
"I can't. My career," I said meekly.
"I'll miss you," Hunter said to the ceiling.
"Why?"
"I'm moving," he said. "I have to take care of my brothers. It was decided."
"I can't just uproot my life and my dreams for you," I said in a small voice.
His grey eyes were as deep as a river.
"I could make you happy."
Before I could answer, his phone rang and beeped with an influx of text messages.
Hunter fumbled for his phone then said, "This…this is bad."
24
Hunter
I’d been stunned when I heard the news that a fire in the old Victorian house Danielle had been living in with her and Walter's three children had burned down. The children hadn’t made it out.
"It's terrible that it happened early Christmas morning," Meg said as we headed to the funeral. "How heartbreaking!"
It was snowing wet, fat snowflakes. The black umbrellas streamed into the church. Walter and his nephews Mark and Carter stood at the front of the church, shaking hands.
Danielle was standing apart from them, dressed all in black, a veil covering her face.
"I am so sorry, Walter," Meg said softly.
He hugged her. "Thank you for coming."
Walter looked at me, his face a wreck of anger and bitterness. "Are you here to gloat?" he hissed.
I jerked back. "Of course not! Walter, you were like a father to me."
I didn't have it in my heart to be angry at him for what had happened with my company. I would lose my mind if I lost one of my brothers. I couldn’t imagine losing a child.
I smelled alcohol as Walter huffed out a breath. "I know you think this is karma."
"Walter," Kate said, coming up to him. "Why don't you come sit down? The service is going to start soon. You can talk to people at the repast."
Walter let her lead him away, but not before looking at me and saying, "If this is karma, remember you're no innocent."
"I'm sorry for your loss, Walter," I said.
Meg sobbed beside me through the entire funeral.
It was still snowing when we streamed outside, following the hearse out to New Cardiff. Kate rode with us.
"How's he holding up?" I asked her as the car crawled through traffic. It seemed as if the entire tristate area had turned out for the funeral. It was literally everyone's worst nightmare—losing kids on Christmas. It strengthened my resolve to move back to Harrogate to take care of my brothers. There was nothing more important than family. I just hoped Meg would come with me.
"Walter won't sleep," Kate said. "He just drinks and rages. Says it's all Danielle's fault."
After another gut-wrenching graveside service, Greg clapped me on the shoulder. "See you tomorrow."
"You aren't going to the repast at the Holbrook Estate?" I asked.
"I don't think so." He shook his head and stared out over the crowd. "Danielle is bad news. Walter never should have been involved with her. You'd think someone that smart could see she was up to no good."
"She's a grieving mother," I admonished him. Greg made a noncommittal noise.
When we arrived at the repast, the Holbroo
k estate was covered in black satin, silk, and lace.
I walked around shaking hands with old coworkers and business contacts until a lace-gloved hand pulled me into a room. Danielle shut the door then came over to me, lifting up her veil. Her eyes didn't look all that red.
"How are you holding up?" I asked carefully.
"Hunter," she said. "I'm grieving." She practically threw herself into my arms. The too-tight black dress heaved. I could see the sun spots on her cleavage. "I've cried so much that I just can't cry anymore."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"There's always something you can do," she said in a sultry voice, trailing a hand along my arm. I resisted the urge to pull away.
"Just remember, I'll always take care of you," she said. "As long as you take care of me." She must have the information on her. I was so close! I gave her my best bedroom eyes.
"I have something for you," she murmured.
Finally.
"I'd really like to have it," I said, letting my breath caress her lips.
She said, trailing the finger down my jaw to my mouth, "You have to come find it."
I tried to keep the disgust off my face. I thought I did a pretty good job.
"Give me a hint," I breathed.
She took my hand and pressed it to her breast and licked her lips. I steeled myself and put my hand down her shirt.
"Oh," she giggled, "not there." She grabbed my other hand and started sliding it lower.
"Lower," she panted. I let my hand slide down. "Lower," she moaned. Well, this was starting to escalate. Danielle shifted, spreading her legs slightly.
I closed my eyes and thought of England. I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit as I dug around in the lace underwear between her legs. I hope she’d wrapped the flash drive in Saran wrap or something. I winced as she made moaning noises and gyrated against my hand. I finally fished out the tiny flash drive. It was not covered in Saran wrap.
"You do have a way with your hands," she purred, biting me softly on the earlobe. All I could think about was escape.
"You can't just leave a lady like that," she said, reaching for my hand.
"I need to get this cleaned off," I told her. "Don't want to corrupt the data."
Her whole demeanor changed.
"Well, aren't you a tease, Hunter," she snarled.
"I don't see what the problem is," I replied coldly, taking out a handkerchief and wiping off my hand and the flash drive.
"It's Meghan, isn't it?" she raged. "And here I thought you were just using her."
"I am using her," I lied.
She glared at me.
"I expect something from this arrangement," Danielle said coldly.
"And you'll have it, as soon as I judge the quality of this information."
25
Meghan
"Something with the house fire just isn’t right," Kate said in a low voice. I looked around the Holbrook Estate. There were tasteful displays of family photos of the children. Every time I thought about them, I felt sick. I wouldn’t be able to deal if anything happened to my sisters. Maybe I should think about moving to Harrogate for good. It couldn't be all bad if Hunter was there.
"Are you talking about the fire?" a young man in a Marine Corps uniform asked as he approached, trailed by a slightly older version of him. Both young men were dark haired and blue eyed.
"This is Carter and Mark Holbrook, Walter's nephews," Kate said, introducing us.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," I said, hugging each of the tall men.
"It was Danielle. I know she had something to do with it," Carter insisted.
"You don't know that," Mark admonished.
"Correct. We don't and should leave it to the police to investigate," Hunter said, coming over and handing me a drink. "Mark, Carter, I'm sorry for your loss," he said, shaking their hands.
"You must hate our family," Carter said. I could hear the bitterness in his voice.
Hunter shrugged. "It was just business."
"How's the military?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Someone was trying to tame a bald eagle by leaving fish guts out," Mark said, "and managed to shut down the base air space because a whole flock of them started roosting on the bell tower. It's been costing millions of dollars a day."
"Hey, now!" Carter protested. "I thought they were an endangered species. They look so majestic in their pictures. Turns out they're basically just giant seagulls. Who knew?"
Mark shook his head, and Hunter chuckled. Carter winked at me.
"Careful!" Kate teased. "Meg is taken."
Carter pretended he'd been stabbed. "No! Say it isn't so! Why are all the good ones taken?"
"You are out of control," Mark said, shoving his brother.
"You have any sisters?" Carter asked me.
"None you can date," I told him, though I was sure my sisters would probably go crazy for Carter. He was funny and endearing.
"Let me know if I can do anything," Hunter said, shaking their hands again.
He was silent in the car on the way back to the city.
"That was rough," I said.
A frown creased his forehead, and his hands were tense on the wheel as he drove carefully through the snow.
I took his hand then said, "Kate's staying at the Holbrook Estate. Her grandmother lives next door. So my apartment is open."
26
Hunter
The smell of flowers hit me as soon as we walked into Meg's apartment.
I tried to put all the thoughts of the funeral out of my mind. I felt a little calmer, knowing that I was sure in my decision of moving back to Harrogate. If only I could convince Meg to come too.
She turned to face me, and I carefully undressed her, letting her hair out of its bun so it fell around her face in waves.
I knew one way of being persuasive.
Meg leaned in to kiss me, and I had to bend down to reach her because of our height difference. The air was cold, and we only partially undressed. I pulled off her stockings, letting my fingers strike in the wetness as I pulled on her panties. There wasn't much room on the bunk bed, so she leaned over the edge of the bed, her ass raised, skirt hitched up. The glistening dark-pink flesh beckoning me. I pressed my face to it, satisfied when I heard her moan. I licked her and teased her then unzipped my pants, groaning as I pulled out my cock to play in her opening and stroke her clit.
Meg twitched as I teased her, and I grabbed her ass to hold her in place. I rolled on a condom, then I gently rocked into her. I felt her moan as I pulled back and thrust into her harder.
I had to brace myself on the metal bunk bed to keep from accidentally giving myself a concussion. With the other hand, I stroked her while I thrust in and out, claiming her. It felt so freaking good.
She looked back at me, her eyes dilated with pleasure. Her eyelashes fluttered, her mouth open as she whimpered. Her cries grew throatier, and I knew she was close. Our orgasms came only a moment apart. My cock spasmed then shot its load into Meg. She screamed my name as her body shook. Then I wrapped around her, lying with her in bed, enveloped by the smell of the flowers.
I woke up the next morning to her phone ringing.
"Hello?" she said sleepily. "Seriously, Karen? It's Saturday…Uh, okay, yeah, I can come in."
"I can't believe you're going. You need to set some boundaries," I grumbled.
"I'm so close to making associate," she told me. "I'll see you tonight?"
I kissed her in answer, feeling oddly, deliriously happy when she leaned into me.
"Stay," I said, almost pleading. "Don't go in. Call Karen and tell her you quit." I thought about running back to Harrogate with her. It would be a rural romance. We would pick apples, and I'd bring her bouquets of wildflowers every day to make her smile.
She smiled, kissed the top of my head, then left.
Pushing aside my disappointment, I fished the flash drive out of my coat pocket and plugged it into my laptop. I had cleaned it off as
best I could in a restroom at the Holbrook Estate. I hoped it worked.
The flash drive loaded, and I opened the documents in the folder one by one, scanning the contents. It was exactly what we needed. There were lists of the various companies Holbrook was looking at acquiring along with target pricing, revenue estimates, and market share projections.
I emailed the whole package to Mace, Garrett, and Greg.
Hunter: Check your emails bros. I have proved once again that I am the best Svensson
Mace: This is legit. You're the boss
Garrett: Perfect. I'll start moving on this info today.
Mace: Who did you have to sleep with to get this?
Greg: I'm begrudgingly impressed.
Mace: Be more than impressed. Bend the knee. Hunter came through in a big way.
My phone buzzed with another message.
Danielle: Was the information satisfactory?
Hunter: Very much so
Danielle: Then I expect some satisfaction from you.
27
Meghan
When I walked into the office, there was no one there. The automatic lights flickered on as I walked to the glass-enclosed conference room. Karen, Mr. Thurlow, and Mr. Harrington nodded at me when I walked in and set my bag down. My stomach sank as I noted their guilty expressions.
I clenched my teeth. I was a lawyer, dammit! I imagined a rod of steel in my spine. If I ever wanted to be a real, practicing lawyer and represent clients in court, I couldn’t fold in front of a bigger bully. I straightened my back. I wasn't going to go out like a sniveling wreck. I still had Hunter. So what if Harrington-Thurlow fired me?
"I take it by the smug expression on Karen's face that my probation period is ending," I said in a clear voice.
No one smiled. Charles seemed a little taken aback. I didn't care. I wasn't going to give Karen the satisfaction of seeing me beg or plead.