Inside Out

by Lauren Dane

  “I can start with not wanting to talk about it now.”

  She snorted. “You’re lucky you have such nice hair,” she muttered.

  “I am?” He kissed her neck, and she didn’t push him away. “Even when I’m a total asshole?”

  She laughed. “Andrew Copeland, you’re a pissy butthead sometimes, yes. But you’re not an asshole. Believe me.”

  “Even if I say I’d really love to have sex with you right now? And it’s my turn.”

  She laughed again. “You always say it’s your turn.” She tipped her head back, allowing him access to her neck.

  “Do I? I should be disciplined, don’t you think?”

  “Sure. No sex for you. That’ll teach you.”

  “Hmpf. I vote no.”

  He danced her toward the bed, pulling at her sweater and T-shirt as he did.

  “You’re still my favorite Copeland. Just in case you were wondering.”

  He straddled her body after he’d peeled her clothes off. “This is good to know. Because I’m the only Copeland who gets to look at these every day.” He dipped down to swipe his tongue over first the right nipple and then the left.

  “Erin would probably frown on me showing my breasts to Ben, yes. Though I haven’t consulted with her on this point. However, hers are so gargantuan right now, I’m not sure it’s much of a fair comparison.”

  God, she was pretty. Running his hands all over her body, he marveled in her, the shape and feel of her body—curves, sharp lines and muscle—against him, beneath him. She looked up at him the whole time, those sexy green eyes half-lidded, burning for him. That secret self only he saw, opened up like a flower.

  The change when she let her sensual self take over was incredible. Her movements slowed down, her voice lowered, she even smelled warm, like honey, sticky-sweet. She was only this way with him. She didn’t need to hold back, and she knew it.

  That she knew he was different and opened up made him feel like a rock star. Made him feel worthy in ways he’d never imagined before.

  He moved, sitting and helping her onto his lap. Laughing, she helped get pillows behind his back, and before he knew it, she had him suited up and was sliding herself down over his cock, her body settling around him, driving him mad with the heat, the tight caress of her flesh against his.

  “I’m pretty sure it’s actually my turn,” she murmured as she rose and fell over him.

  “Whichever. Whatever. You’re on me, I’m in you, that’s what matters.”

  She managed to open her eyes to meet his gaze, that connection clicking into place all the way down to her toes.

  She was helpless against him in a way that left her far more vulnerable than she’d ever been with Bill. Andrew Copeland was her heart. Just how this had come to be, even when it had happened, she wasn’t sure. But it was there. He lived inside her, past all those walls she’d erected to keep herself safe.

  “Waltzed right in and made yourself at home.” She smirked.

  He felt so good inside her she simply let herself feel what he did. Filling her up more than physically.

  She arched, offering as much of herself to him as she could. He touched her like she was fine and precious, like he couldn’t not touch her. No one had ever made her feel so cherished and sexually irresistible.

  “I did? I’m a scoundrel that way.” He nuzzled her neck, licking up to her earlobe, which he took between his teeth until she squeaked with pleasure, and he chuckled.

  “I’m so easy when you touch me.” She laughed as he took two handfuls of breasts and hauled her closer.

  “Thank God for it. I like you being easy for me.”

  Climax slammed into her as he slipped his hand down to her pussy, finding her clit ready and slick, needing to be touched. She held on tight, trying to breathe, falling in deep as he played the rhythm of her body.

  “Hope you realize I’m one of those guests who just won’t leave,” he mumbled sometime later, their bodies tangled in the mess of sheets, underwear and blankets.

  “Thank God.”

  “I’m sorry we fought.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder, idly playing with one of his nipple rings. “Do you never have fights with your other women?”

  “That part about the women before. About how I didn’t like them.” He took a deep breath. “Cut pretty close to the bone.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt you, but I see you, Andrew. I know you. I can’t lie about how exceptional I think you are, and I can’t lie about what I see in you.”

  He shook his head. “None of them were what you are. This is new for me. Not how I feel about you, I’ve wanted you a very long time. But dealing with your feelings and remembering I want you to be around tomorrow.” He snorted. “Takes getting used to. Though I want to, which is also new.”

  What girl didn’t want to hear that from a man like Andrew Copeland? She knew part of why it thrilled her so much was, hello, he was hot and had been the freewheeling sexy boy with a thousand women fawning over him. But she believed him when he told her how he felt about her. However improbable it was, she had been different. What they had was different than what he’d been before with those other women.

  Another part of her realized it was actually true. She’d seen him with various women over the years, and she’d lay odds that none of them had seen the inside of his house much less gotten an “I love you” from his lips.

  “I don’t want to hurt you. I’m not good at this. What if I fuck it up?”

  “You’re going to hurt me.” She licked over the hard muscle of his pecs. “This is inevitable, because no one can hurt you like someone who’s close to you. We’ll fight. You’re a pushy, bossy man, though you like to play laid-back. I know you, Andrew; you’re not laid-back about important things. And that’s where we’re going to tangle. Because I don’t know how to be a girlfriend, and you don’t know how to have one.”

  He snorted as he stroked over the hollow just below her ear, sending shivers through her. “Least you’ve finally been able to call yourself my girlfriend. This is progress.”

  “But we’re not what I was with Bill. Don’t think I don’t understand this.”

  She shifted to look at his face better. “Hot damn, you’re pretty.” She kissed that mouth of his, meaning to be quick, but with him, she never knew if it would be a sweet pause or a fast-moving wildfire.

  He groaned, opening his mouth, sliding his arms around her, holding her body to his as he took over, devouring her with such self-assured sexuality she nearly melted on the spot. Parts of her were significantly wetter than before, so maybe that’s where she was melting.

  “What’s making you smile?”

  “I made up a horrible joke in my head. But I can totally laugh at it that way. Saves embarrassment of saying it out loud.”

  “Come on, I promise to laugh at all your jokes. It’s part of the boyfriend job. Though you can’t tell anyone this, I’m new at it too.”

  “Never say,” she murmured as she sat up. “Andrew, I simply must tell you that you have the most beautifully male body I’ve ever seen. You’re, god, you make my mouth water.”

  He blushed and she smiled down at him, surprised and touched by how sweet and shy he actually was when it came to the big, important stuff.

  “Flattery will get you just about anywhere with me, Red. Then again, all you have to do is ask, and it’s yours. I’m putty in your hands.”

  Reaching down between them, she grasped his cock, giving it a friendly squeeze. “I promise to be gentle.”

  And she was. Mostly.

  21

  “Are you getting enough sleep?” Elise looked over Ella warily. “You have dark circles under your eyes. Is Cope pestering you to have sex instead of letting you sleep?” She then laughed, making Ella groan and roll her eyes.

  She’d stopped over at Elise’s to drop off a book she’d borrowed and to visit for a few minutes in the midst of a really insanely chaotic period of time where she’d been runnin
g from place to place, trying to stay afloat in a sea of to-do list items.

  “I’m fine. Just had to catch up on some client work. I did it after Cope was done pestering me and he’d gone to sleep. This week has been rushed, and I’ve had a lot to do. It’s just until Erin is better and I finish these last credits. It’s not that much longer.”

  “You’re going to get sick if you don’t get more sleep.”

  She grinned at her friend. “Thanks, Mom. But really, I’m fine, I promise. We got into a bit of a tiff and then, well, you know the making-up part. That part took a few hours. Believe me when I tell you I’d trade what that man can do with his hands and mouth for a few hours’ more sleep any day.”

  “You slapper!” Elise dissolved into laughter. “Makeup sex is the best. What’d you fight about?”

  She sighed. “Do you know it’s been something like five years or so since I’ve shared any details about an argument with someone I’m dating? God, no, more like six, since I didn’t really share much about Bill. I’m out of practice.”

  “And it’s hard to share when you took all that weight on yourself for so long.” Elise smiled at her. “He’s not Bill.”

  Ella laughed. And then she laughed some more at the very thought. “No. God, no, he’s not Bill. Andrew is kind. He’s sweet and loving, and he listens to me. He even gets pissy with me.”

  “This is good? That he gets pissy?”

  “Yeah. Because pissy can be survived. Pissy is what you get when you’re dealing with someone you trust. See, I’m not even sure if he gets it, but we fought twice, not even fought. He’s worried about Erin and stuff, and he snapped at me. But I batted it away and kept on. It never occurred to me, not even for a moment, to be afraid or unsure. I just let it roll off and gave him shit right back.”

  “And that’s huge.”

  Of course Elise got it. Ella nodded. “Yeah. Like beyond huge. What’s funny is I never expected it to be any other way. I suppose I’ve just known he was different from go.”

  “That must knock him for a loop. Those boys are very confident and stuff. But, wow, are they protective of the women they love. And don’t look at me that way; he loves you. He wears it on his skin like a neon jumpsuit.”

  Ella blushed. She hadn’t told Elise of Andrew’s declaration of love. Hadn’t told anyone. She believed it, accepted it and carried it around like a touchstone. It felt like magic, as if she’d break the spell if she said it out loud. “Like the crazy inmates at the county jail? Great.”

  “Oh yes, totally like that.” Elise jerked her head toward the interior of the house. “Come in? Have a glass of wine? Rennie is sleeping, and Brody should be home soon. He stopped by Erin’s on his way home from the shop.”

  “I wish I could, but I have to run.”

  “All right. Oh and hey, the seamstress called today. Your bridesmaid dress arrived, and you’ll need to go in for a fitting. She suggested we wait until after Thanksgiving. Erin, well, let’s just get through the pregnancy and delivery, and then we can think about that part.” Elise hugged herself.

  “She’s going to be all right. How could she not be?”

  Elise sighed. “It happens every day. She’s strong, and it’s looking like the modified bed rest is controlling the blood pressure. But she has to be careful. They’ve put her on a special diet, which she hates. But Ben and Todd won’t let her get away with any nonsense, even if she tried it.”

  “She’s scared. She’ll behave because she’s a good mom already. Though I’m sure that’s enough pressure right there. Knowing what it means to have a child, but also what it means to lose that.”

  “It makes me nauseated to even think about what it would be like for her right now. But she’s got a group of people who love her to help with everything. And she knows it. Rennie and I lucked out to end up here with these people in our lives. To be loved the way they all love. It’s a gift.”

  Ella nodded. “Yeah, it is. Listen, I really do have to run. I’ll see you soon though, right?”

  “You free this weekend? Brody and Adrian are taking Rennie to the movies on Saturday, so I have a free afternoon if you want to grab lunch.”

  “That sounds great. Why don’t we find out what Erin can eat on this new diet, and we can make it and take it to her place? Free Todd and Ben up for a while and give her some new faces to look at.”

  “Great idea. I’ll call her and make the arrangements and get back to you with details.” Elise hugged her. “Talk to you soon.”

  Ella waved and headed back down the sidewalk to her car just as Adrian and Brody pulled up.

  “Why, if it isn’t the loveliest redhead I know,” Brody said, grinning as he pulled her into a hug. “You here to get my lovely wife-to-be in trouble?”

  “If so, can I watch?” Adrian winked at her.

  “Mmm-hmm. If there’s trouble anywhere around here, I doubt it’s coming from me. This is a whole lot of Brown maleness right up on this driveway. How’s Erin?”

  “She was actually getting tucked up into bed when we left. She’s doing all right. Her BP is much better today, but she’s still pretty swollen in her feet and ankles. They’re monitoring her and the baby, and everything looks good, so they’re going to go ahead and let her stay home on bed rest and not push labor unless it gets worse.”

  “I’m stopping by tomorrow after I get off work to check on her. You guys please let me know if you need my help.”

  “You’re leaving? Come on inside and have a glass of wine with us.” Brody touched her hand.

  “Thanks. No, Elise already asked, but I do have to go. I have a really full schedule tomorrow, so I need to get home to rest.”

  They both escorted her to her car. And it was then Andrew pulled up. Her heart skipped a beat as she took him in, saw the surprised pleasure on his face at the sight of her.

  “That’s our cue to beat it.” Adrian knocked once on her car’s roof. “Have a good night, Ella. See you soon.” He and Brody waved at Cope and headed inside, while Cope headed straight to her.

  “Hey, Red, fancy seeing you here.” He leaned in her window and kissed her soundly. “That’s better. Takes the edge off.”

  She just let that soak in, smiling at him. “I was just on my way out. Glad I didn’t miss you.”

  “Are you free tonight? I know I slept over last night too, but I’ve come to notice something peculiar, Ella. I sleep much better with you next to me.” He leaned closer. “I promise to make you breakfast in the morning.”

  She groaned. “I’m mightily tempted.”

  He brushed his thumb against her cheek. “I didn’t notice these dark smudges until just now. Here’s what I’m going to do. Come to my house. I’ll run you a bath, complete with Epsom salts. Fix you a cup of tea and tuck you into bed relatively unmolested. I’d say totally, but we both know I can’t resist just a little bit of kissing and touching.”

  “I have to get up at five. You don’t have to be up until seven. That’s a lot to ask when sex isn’t on the table.”

  “We haven’t done it on a table yet. I’ll put it on the list for next time.” He touched her again, just a butterfly against her cheek. “It’s up to you, but I don’t care if I only have you until five, I just want to be with you. Though, how about we switch locations since you’re so tired and you have to be up really early. Your house?”

  She smiled. “All right. But I can’t guarantee I’ll be awake if you aren’t there in half an hour or so.” Yawning hugely, she turned the car on, and he stepped back.

  “Be right there. I was just stopping off to check in with Brody about something. That can wait, though. I’ll call him about it.”

  Before she could protest, he’d jogged his very fine ass back to his truck, making her all swoony and lightheaded.

  He knocked on her door, excited to see her, to be able to touch her. Silly how quickly seeing her every day had become necessary.

  She opened, and he realized just how tired she must have been. Even her normally very str
aight posture was slumped a bit. He stepped inside, waiting for her to close and lock the door before he took her into his arms.

  “Baby, you’re knackered. I’m sorry I pushed to come over. I’ll go home.” The last thing he wanted was to make her more tired.

  She smiled up at him. “Plate on the table for you. I need to shower. Cookies in the jar.”

  Okay then. He considered following her into the bathroom to help with relaxation and stress relief. He sure knew a bunch of ways to work out the kinks. But that’s what most likely kept her awake the night before.

  He looked at her table, where she’d prepared not just one sandwich, but three. Meatloaf? Awesome.

  “The woman is a goddess,” he mumbled as he put on a pot of tea for her.

  He loved the way she looked all fresh from the shower. Her hair pulled away from her face only emphasized the beauty of her features, the size of her eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking the mug of tea. The apartment was cold, he knew, due to an aging radiator. But she had on her sweats and a long-sleeved shirt. He made a mental note to bring her some wool socks and to look into radiant heat for the floors in his bathrooms.

  Wow. He stilled a moment, startling himself with the idea of living with her. And then being stupefied that he’d startled as he was ass over teakettle in love.

  Living together was a huge step. Natural with the course they’d set. His place was bigger and safer for her. He thought of his house with her stamp on it, that simple femininity she had, the bold sense of colors and style.

  He thought of his brother and the melding of three very distinct styles and personalities in their apartment. They worked as a unit. He admired their effort and commitment to each other, their energy put into maintaining such a complicated but totally loving relationship, which was not only intact but thriving.

  For a time, Cope had worried that Ben would fall away from Erin and Todd, that in the end, Ben would end up alone and broken. Now he knew that wouldn’t happen, but there was still the worry of loss. He’d spoken with Ben earlier that day, and his brother had been scared shitless and trying to hold it together when he was around Erin.