Road to Passion

by Piper Davenport

  “So this is going to happen again, then?”

  Mack chuckled. “A lot.”

  I giggled. “Promises, promises.”

  He slid his hand along my belly. “Just statin’ fact, baby.”

  “Now?” I asked hopefully.

  “No, honey. You’re still too tender, but tomorrow we’ll try again.”

  I ran my thumb along his lower lip. “I can’t wait to do research for my next book.”

  “We’ll be real thorough.” Mack grinned, drawing my thumb into his mouth and sucking gently.

  “Ohmigod, you’re irresistible!” I moved my hand to his chest.

  “Good to know.” He kissed me quickly and then settled next to me. “But I need to shut this down, baby, or I’ll hurt you.”

  “Gentleman to the end,” I said, and rolled onto my side, settling my head on his chest.

  “I will always protect you, Darien.” He ran his finger along my side and laid his palm on my bottom. “Even if it’s from yourself.”

  “I know. It’s one of the things I love the most about you.” I kissed his chest. “But try to remember I’m a grown-ass woman who doesn’t always need protecting.” Mack’s body shook with laughter, although, he didn’t make any sound. “Not funny, honey.”

  “Yeah, Darien, it’s funny.” He gave my bottom a gentle smack. “It’s one of the things I love the most about you.” I smiled, biting back another yawn. Mack pulled the covers up our bodies and kissed the top of my head. “Sleep, sweetheart.”

  I yawned again as I slid my arm over his stomach. “’Night, bossy.”

  Mack chuckled. “’Night, Darien.”

  * * *

  Saturday I awoke to an empty bed, but the soft scent of Mack was left on the sheets next to me so I burrowed in. I closed my eyes and kept them closed, even when I felt the bed dip and soft lips kiss the sensitive spot just below my ear. “Good morning.”

  I smiled, reaching my hand behind me and sliding it into his hair. “Good morning.”

  Mack rolled me onto my back and leaned down to kiss me. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Really well,” I said. “You?”

  “Once I pinned you to the bed, great.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  He grinned and settled beside me. “You did the alligator death roll more than a few times.”

  I giggled. “What the heck is an alligator death roll?”

  Mack slid his hand under the shirt I was wearing and laid it on my belly. “Well, it’s when you threw all your blankets off, but then you’d throw your arm over me, grab mine, and roll with them. I had to chase you to keep from freezing.”

  “You did?”

  “I did.” He kissed my neck. “But I pinned you to the bed and you settled and stayed that way as long as I kept you close.”

  I arched against his mouth. “I did?”

  His hand slid to my breast, cupping it gently. “You did.”

  “I think I love sleeping next to you.”

  “Ditto, baby.” He rolled a nipple between his finger and thumb as he kissed me. He stopped kissing me long enough to pull off my shirt and panties, and then his hand slipped between my legs and his thumb circled my clit. “I love how wet you get for me.” I mewed as he slid a finger inside of me, then two. “Too much?”

  “No, it’s perfect,” I breathed out.

  “Want more?”

  “Ohmigod, yes.”

  He chuckled and removed his hand only long enough to roll on a condom and slip into me slowly. “How’s that, baby?”

  I shifted so I could draw him further into my body. “So good.”

  “You’re not too sore?”

  I raised my head so I could look him in the eye and cupped his face. “I’m fine, Logan. I love everything we’re doing here, and I love you for making sure I’m okay, but I’d super duper appreciate it if you’d just fuck me now and worry about me later.”

  He grinned and kissed me as he thrust forward, surging deeply into me. I hooked my ankles around his waist as he continued to drive his hips, slowly at first, but building up speed as I grew louder and louder. He slipped a hand between us and fingered my clit and I couldn’t stop myself from exploding around him. He wasn’t far behind me and I felt him pulse inside of me as he rolled us onto our sides.

  “I love you.” I stroked his cheek with a smile. “Sorry about the morning breath.”

  He chuckled. “Sorry about the quickie. There’ll be more later.”

  “Well, as you know, I’m not an expert, but that was amazing, so if that’s what a quickie does to me, I’m all for it.”

  “God, I love you.” Mack grinned. “Come shower with me and then I’ll make you breakfast.”

  “Yes, please.”

  THREE DAYS LATER, it was the last day of the month, and I was checking my bank balance to see what my book had yielded as far as royalties. For the most part, my royalties were paid monthly, although, occasionally they were paid quarterly.

  “Pauley!” I screamed as I stared at the screen.

  “What? What’s wrong?” she asked, rushing to me.

  “Royalty deposit.”

  “Ohmigod, Darien, I thought you were hurt.”

  I waved my hand toward the screen and took a deep breath. “Look.”

  Pauley leaned down. “Holy shit.”

  “I’m reading it wrong, right?”

  “If fifty-six thousand, four hundred two dollars and ninety-two cents is not what you read, then yeah.”

  “Omigod, Pauley, that’s more than my yearly salary.”

  “And that’s just one month.” She looked again. “NY Times bestseller, Dare. This will only get bigger.”

  “You think?”

  “I know.” Pauley smiled. “So, you gonna quit?”

  “Um, yeah, I’m gonna quit.” I grabbed my cell phone. “After I call Logan.”

  Pauley giggled. “Dinner on you Friday night.”

  “Sounds good.” I headed to my bedroom and dialed Mack.

  He answered on the first ring. “Hey, baby, I’m in the middle of something, can I call you back?”

  “I just wanted to let you know, I can quit my job.”

  “That’s great, Dare.”

  He sounded distracted which was unlike him. “Call me later,” I said.

  “I will.”

  “I love you.”

  “Me too,” he said, and he was gone.

  * * *

  Mack hung up and scowled as he paced his office.

  “What the fuck are they tryin’ to do?” Knight asked.

  “Set us up, I’d guess,” Booker answered.

  “Fuck!” Mack snapped. “What does Jax say?”

  Knight shook his head. “Haven’t brought him in yet. Want me to?”

  Mack glanced at Booker who nodded.

  “Yeah, brother,” Mack said. “Bring him in. This just got bigger than us.”

  * * *

  Wednesday morning, I arrived at work to chaos. An orderly was out sick and we’d lost one of our patients (the one who’d puked on me not so long ago), so the coroner was there to assist with removing the body.

  “Oh, Darien, thank you for being early. Have a seat.” Eleanor, our director, smiled up at me from her desk. “Would you mind taking on a tour for me?”

  “Now?” I asked, and sat in one of the chairs facing her desk. Eleanor always canceled tours if there was a death... it never looked good for a potential client to check out the facility after losing a patient.

  She shook her head. “In about an hour. The coroner’s just finishing up.”

  “Of course. Not a problem.” I grimaced. “I actually have something to speak with you about.”

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m leaving.” I set my resignation letter in front of her. “Here’s my two week notice.”

  She sighed. “Please tell me it’s because of something fabulous.”

  I smiled. I adored my boss, but not quite enough to stay. “I wrot
e a book and it’s kind of taking off.”

  “Shut up. You did?” She sat back. “Please tell me it’s something sexy.”

  I laughed. “Um, yeah, it is actually, but I honestly didn’t expect you’d read that.”

  “Oh, honey, I love a good romance. Did you write it under your name?”

  I shook my head. “No, I wanted a little anonymity. I wrote it under D.W. Foxblood.”

  “Forbidden Pleasures?” she whispered.

  I gasped. “Yes. Did you read it?”

  “Hell, yeah I did. I loved it. That’s you?”

  I giggled. “Yes, it’s me.”

  “Are you going to write another one?” she asked. “Please tell me you’re going to write Miller’s book.”

  “I hope to. I’ve kind of started the second in the series, but haven’t had a whole lot of time lately. And yes, it’s Miller’s book.”

  “Well, honey, you get right on that! I’ll buy whatever you write.”

  “Thanks, Eleanor. I appreciate it. Do you think I could still come back, maybe once a week? I don’t think I can go cold turkey on my checkers game with Mr. Akerman.”

  “You’re welcome anytime and you know how much we love our volunteers.”

  I smiled. “That’s very true.”

  A knock came at the open door and I craned my head to see Mike, one of the orderlies. “Coroner’s done. Just needs you to sign.”

  “Thanks, Mike.” Eleanor rose to her feet. “Don’t change until after the tour, if you don’t mind, Darien. You know the drill.”

  I smiled. “No problem.”

  Eleanor followed Mike down the hall and I pulled out my phone. I had a reprieve of sorts, so fired off a quick text to Mack. He’d called me back the night before, but I was so tired, we’d barely gotten to talk for ten minutes before I had to sleep. I missed him and I wouldn’t see him tonight because it was “Church,” the club’s weekly meeting.

  I was surprised when my phone rang just as I pressed send on my text. I smiled. “Hi, honey.”

  “Hey,” Mack said.

  “I’m surprised you’re awake.”

  He chuckled. “Had no one to keep me up all night.”

  “Oh, you’re funny,” I retorted.

  “Feel like stayin’ at my place tonight? I’ll drop you into work tomorrow.”

  “That sounds amazing. You don’t mind?”

  “No. Miss you, baby.”

  I smiled again. “Miss you too. Want me to come down right after work, or meet you after church?”

  “Church got pushed back an hour, so come here after work and we can eat, then I’ll go.”

  “Perfect. Just have to drop by home and grab the dog and then I’ll be there.”

  “Sounds good, honey. I’ll see you then.”

  “Love you,” I said.

  “Love you too.” Mack hung up and I slipped my phone into my pocket.

  I headed out to the front and let the receptionist know I’d be in the day room and that I was expecting a potential client.

  I was pleasantly surprised to find Mr. Akerman in the day room and he waved me over to the Checkers board. “Let me beat you, honeygirl.”

  He’d been so sick lately and we’d all been sure it wouldn’t be long before he passed away, but today he appeared to be rallying.

  I giggled and sat across from him. “You think you can?”

  “I’m sure gonna try.”

  “You’re on.”

  We managed four games (three of which he “won”) before I was called up for the tour. “I’ll try and come back in a bit, Mr. Akerman.”

  “Okay, honeygirl. I’ll be waitin’.”

  I smiled and made my way to the lobby. A very good looking and tall, blond man with longish hair, dressed in a suit that had obviously been made for him, turned to me with a sexy smile.

  “Mr. Kozlov?” I asked, and reached a hand out to him.

  “Hello.” He took my hand with both of his.

  “I’m Darien Aherne. I understand you’re looking at our facility for your grandfather?”

  “Yes. I understand you have good reputation,” he said in a thick Russian accent.

  “We have a first class facility and we do everything we can to keep our residents healthy and happy.”

  “So I heard.”

  “Right.” I forced a smile. There was something a little disconcerting about him. “Shall we?”

  “Da.”

  For the next hour, I walked the man around the facility, showing him a typical suite, the day room, cafeteria, and so forth. Not once did he speak in full sentences. Just hummed in a tone that could neither be considered positive or negative. By the time I bid him farewell, I had no idea if he liked or disliked what he saw. But I’d done everything I could, so I changed into scrubs and went about my day.

  Eleanor called me into her office just after lunch. “I don’t know what you said to Mr. Kozlov, but he’s bringing his grandfather here tomorrow. We’ve never had someone commit that quickly.”

  “Really? That’s great,” I said.

  “I think he was quite taken with you.”

  “What? Seriously?”

  Eleanor giggled. “Yes. He was asking if you had a boyfriend. I informed him we don’t discuss our employees’ personal lives, but I won’t be surprised if he seeks you out over the next couple of weeks.”

  I shook my head. “You’re crazy. But thanks for the heads up.”

  “No problem, hon.”

  “I’ll see you later. I have to check on Mr. Akerman.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said, and went back to work.

  Four o’clock came faster than expected and I almost squealed with glee as I made a run for my car and headed home. I’d gone shopping the day before and picked up a few things so I could have makeup remover and hair stuff at Mack’s. I’d also grabbed Barney’s favorite food and an extra water and food bowl for him. Although I had no intention of moving in with Mack so quickly, he had suggested I leave a few things at his place since it was the only place we were guaranteed absolute privacy.

  There was something quite strange about packing for my boyfriend’s place. Something that felt a little more grown up than normal. Probably because I was Dork Darien.

  I had to make two trips to my car, but I packed in record time and gathered Barney and a few bottles of wine (priorities), then called Mack.

  “Hey, babe.”

  “Hi. I’m leaving now. Need me to pick up anything?” I asked as I started the car.

  “Not unless you need wine.”

  I giggled. “Oh, I have wine.”

  “Figured.” He chuckled. “Be safe, yeah?”

  “Yes, bossy. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  We hung up and I drove (safely) to his place where he met me in the driveway. I barely got the car turned off before my door was opened and I was pulled into his arms and kissed rather thoroughly for all his neighbors to see.

  “Damn, baby, I’ve missed you.”

  I stroked his cheek. “Missed you too, honey.”

  Barney whined behind me in an effort to get to Mack, so I moved out of the way and Mack picked him up and gave him a few ear scratches. “Hey, boy.”

  “I think he loves you more than me now.”

  “Evil plan complete.” Mack chuckled. “Pop your trunk and I’ll grab your stuff.”

  Once inside, he took care of the dog and my bags while I hung up my coat and took off my shoes. He put Barney out back for a few minutes and kissed me again on his way to the kitchen. “How was your day?”

  “Good. I gave my notice. Two weeks and I’m done.”

  “Baby, that’s great.” He grinned and grabbed a beer. “Want one?”

  “Yes, please.”

  He popped the top and handed me the bottle then grabbed another one for himself. “How did they take it?”

  “Well, I found out Eleanor read the book.”

  “She didn’t kno
w about it before?”

  “I’m writing under a pen name, remember?” I said as I flopped onto the sofa.

  “Right. What’s the pen name again?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Do you ever listen to me when I speak?”

  “Huh?”

  “Oh, very funny,” I retorted.

  He grinned. “I do listen, we just never drilled down into all the details of your book remember?”

  “No, I guess we didn’t, did we?” I conceded.

  “No.”

  I giggled. “D.W. Foxblood.”

  “The book’s that’s Forbidden somethin’?”

  “Forbidden Pleasures, yes.”

  “Shit, seriously?”

  “Yes, why?” I asked.

  “Babe, that book’s huge,” he said, and opened the door for the dog. “The women were havin’ a book club a while back and were reading it.”

  “At the club?”

  “Yeah, babe. It’s Dani’s favorite book.”

  I choked on my beer. “Ohmigod, seriously?”

  “Seriously.” He grinned as he sat next to me. “Fuck me, my woman’s famous.”

  “Well, not quite. But I’m working on it.”

  Mack chuckled. “I’m proud of you, Darien.”

  “Thanks, honey.” Barney jumped onto the sofa and settled next to me, his head on my lap. “Can you keep the secret for a bit?”

  “Yeah, if you want me to,” he said.

  “Thanks. I’m just not quite ready for people to be weird. I don’t even know if this will last for long.”

  “It’ll last, Darien,” he said. “Now you just gotta write somethin’ else and keep your name out there.”

  “I know.” I sighed. “I’ll get through the next two weeks and then my new career can really start.”

  “I’m gonna like you workin’ from home.”

  “You are?”

  He nodded. “Research all day, every day.”

  I laughed. “You have a point. Make sure you keep your phone handy. I want you at my beck and call at all times.”

  “Whatever you need, baby.”

  I set my beer down and shifted so I was in his lap, straddling his hips. “Speaking of research.”

  He grinned, setting his beer next to mine. “Yeah?”

  “Do we have time before you go?”