Myra sat behind me and began rubbing my shoulders. I leaned into her, the puppy snoring on my lap, and felt like I could do this forever. Like this was it—everything I’d ever wanted.
“Feel better?” she asked, her voice low.
“Mmm. Thank you.”
“I hate that you have headaches. That I can’t help beyond this.”
I looked up at her, then took her hand and kissed her palm. She gave me a small smile, and it felt like the best thing in the world. “You being here? It’s better than anything else you could’ve done. Usually, I deal with these things alone—or now, with Daisy. But I like you being here in my space, next to me. Helping me.”
I wanted to say more, but I knew if I did, it would be a mistake. Too much, too fast. Thankfully, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Myra wiggled around me so she could get up.
“I already paid,” I called out.
“Okay,” she said, and I shook my head.
I knew Myra had way more money than I did. She would always have more. It wasn’t a problem for me, though, and I didn’t mind that she sometimes paid for us to go out. However, she occasionally got a little affronted over the idea that I wanted to pay.
It was just a thing, though. We would alternate like any couple good at finding balance.
Only I didn’t know what that would be for us.
“It smells delicious.” Myra walked into the living room. I stood up, Daisy in my arms, and then took her outside to take care of her business. After, I put her in her octagon, where she promptly fell back asleep.
“She already ate dinner. Now, it’s time for us.”
Myra’s eyes darkened, and I kissed her again. “Food first,” she said. “I’m starving.”
“It’s like you knew exactly where my mind was going,” I laughed.
“I always know where your mind is going, Nathan Brady.”
“I am sweet and innocent. I have no idea what you mean.”
Myra snorted and sat down next to me, leaning between my legs as the two of us divvied up our food, plates piled high with bulgogi and broccoli and teriyaki chicken.
“This smells so good,” Myra repeated. “Either that, or the fact that I skipped lunch probably makes me think everything smells amazing.”
I frowned. “You skipped lunch?”
“Yes. I was stressed out over a simple phone call, and it took me forever to get into my project. But then I was in the middle of it, and I was having a good day after that. In the zone. Lots of painting.”
“What phone call?” I asked, tapping her lip with my fork. She opened, and I slid the chicken inside. She frowned.
“I can feed myself.”
“It’s hotter when I feed you.”
“You say that, but now there’s teriyaki on my chin, isn’t there?”
She narrowed her eyes, and I shrugged and reached for the napkin to clean her up.
“There. All gone.”
“But now I’m all sticky,” she said, and I groaned.
“Stop saying random sexy things to distract me. What was the phone call about?”
“I just said I was sticky. That’s not sexy.”
“Do I need to make you sticky so you could see how sexy it is?” I asked, raising a single brow.
“Okay, okay, fine. Later.”
“Phone call.”
She sighed. “It was my parents’ lawyer. I think they’re going to contest the will completely. They were giving me one last chance or something like that. It’s ridiculous.”
Rage spiraled through me, and I took a deep breath so I didn’t take it out on Myra. “What do they think you did? Conspired with your grandmother to steal money that wasn’t even theirs to begin with?”
“I have no idea. And it doesn’t matter. It’s going to be a lot of work to deal with this entire estate. I’m starting to think my grandma didn’t even like me if she forced me to deal with all this on my own.”
I shook my head and took her hand in mine. “She knew you could handle it. And you have people to lean on if you need to.”
“I should be able to do it myself.”
“Myra, we both know you don’t have to.”
“I’m just used to doing things that way. I always have. Even before I met you, Nate. I’ve always been alone when it comes to my family.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I wanted to tell her that I would always be here for her, that her friends and I would be here. But I couldn’t promise that. Not when I was afraid she would push me away if I got too close, too quickly.
“What can I do?” I asked.
“Nothing yet. I don’t think my grandmother trusted anybody else to take care of all of this. She gave Lacey a lot for her children, and there’s responsibility in that, but there are so many other things. My lawyer’s helping me with it, but we’re at a standstill at the moment while we wait to see what my family’s going to do.”
“I hate this for you.”
“It’s not my favorite thing. And it completely derailed me this morning. So, when I finally got in the mood to paint and work on the project for the commission I need to be paid for, I skipped lunch. That’s why I’m starving now. But the food is good. Even if you got me all sticky.”
She winked, and I laughed like she likely intended.
“I’m not the greatest with investments and estates and things like that, but you know Arden’s husband, Liam, is. He deals with a bunch.”
“Because he’s a multi-millionaire, former famous model, and now a bestselling author?” she asked.
“I don’t know if you have to sound so excited about all those things.”
She snorted. “I had such a crush on him when I was younger. Liam is very handsome.”
“So I hear. Too bad he’s already married to my baby sister.”
“To your twin. I was only ribbing you. He may be handsome, but he’s taken.”
“And?”
“And I guess I have you. So, yeah, I can’t have him.”
“You know, I’m about to throw this rice in your face,” I growled.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
I looked at the rice, and then at her, and shook my head. “No, because I’m hungry. You’re lucky I didn’t eat enough for lunch either. Hence, the headache.”
“Okay, I guess I should feed you.” She pressed the fork full of bulgogi to my lips, and I slid it off the tines with my tongue, my gaze on her.
“Who knew bulgogi could be so sexy?” she purred.
I laughed and nearly choked on my beer as I took a sip. “Thank you for that,” I said.
“Should you be having a beer with a headache?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Probably not, but here we are.”
We finished our food, checked on Daisy, and then brought everything to the kitchen to clean up.
“I seriously have bulgogi on my face and my hands. Feeding each other and being sexy with this kind of food probably wasn’t the best idea.” She laughed.
“It looks like I need to clean you up.” I kissed her hard, swiping my tongue over hers. She moaned.
“Seriously, it’s everywhere. I think you got bulgogi in my bra.” Myra laughed again.
“I would never dare waste good quality beef like that. However, I guess you’re going to have to take your bra off so I can check.”
She snorted and shook her head. “Seriously, though, what do you say we take a shower?”
My dick hardened, pressing against my zipper. I nodded quickly. “Okay, let’s go.” I turned around, slapped her on the ass, and pushed her forward. “Strip off those clothes, baby. Let’s get in the shower.”
“Eager much?”
“My dick has been hard since you rubbed against it earlier, and now I’m pretty sure I’m going to have a zipper scar for the rest of my life.”
“Aw, poor baby. You’re going to have to take your pants off so I can see, though, just to check.”
I laughed and stripped off my shirt
as we made our way into the bathroom.
We laughed, kissing, letting our hands trail over each other as we quickly stripped off our clothes and stood in my tall shower. I had a bench seat that I used whenever I had a severe headache, one of the upgrades I had put in when Arden said that I needed to take better care of myself.
And now, I was fucking grateful for it.
“Sit,” I said as I turned on the warm water. The water slicked over my back and misted over Myra as she spread her legs on the bench. I dropped to my knees in front of her and lapped.
“Damn,” she muttered, her hands pressing against the glass on either side of us. “This isn’t good for water,” she moaned.
“Then I’ll have to be fast,” I whispered against her and then spread her before licking her clit. I speared her with two fingers as I kissed her harder, and she shuddered, her whole body shaking against me. When she came, her legs wrapped around my neck and she pressed into me, her entire body blushing under my attentions and from the water.
I moved away so she could lean down and capture my lips.
“I taste myself,” she whispered.
“You’re so fucking hot,” I muttered. “So fucking…everything,” I whispered, not sure what else I should or could say. I couldn’t even think.
Instead, I kissed her again, my hands roaming over her breasts and her hips as she sat in front of me. I knelt between her legs until she tugged me up. I stood, and her lips were suddenly around my cock.
I let my head fall back, the water sliding over our bodies as she took me in hand and hollowed her cheeks. She hummed along my length and bobbed her head, taking me in whole as she cupped my balls.
“I’m not going to last long,” I muttered.
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she sucked in her cheeks and kept going as my back tingled, and my balls tightened. I moved back, pulling her hair ever so slightly so she let go.
“I need you,” I whispered. She stood up and pressed her breasts to my chest as I kissed her hard, both of us sliding against one another. I turned her in my arms, and she placed her hands on the glass. I gripped her hips and spread her cheeks.
“One day, I’m going to want this ass of yours,” I muttered, pressing my thumb to her.
She shuddered, pushing back into me.
I played with her a bit, and she wiggled.
“Maybe, but only for you.”
“Jesus Christ, don’t tempt me like that.”
“Then start fucking me, Brady.”
“As my lady commands,” I said and spread her again before I thrust into her in one stroke.
We both froze, her body stretching to accommodate me as my dick twitched.
I let out a breath, then pulled out again before pressing forward. I slid one hand up, cupping her breast as I fucked her from behind, both of us panting with need.
But this wasn’t only fucking. It was so much more. This was the woman I knew inside and out. I could imagine doing this for the rest of my life.
I wanted this for the rest of my life.
And I was so fucking afraid that I wouldn’t get it.
She moaned and pressed her back to my front. I latched on to her neck, my hands sliding over her wet body as we moved as one, arching into each other.
When she came again, her inner walls clamping around my cock, I pressed my fingers over her clit. I got impossibly harder, both of us panting, no words needed. And then I came, filling her, the bliss a perfect cacophony of both silence and madness.
We fought to catch our breath, and then I pulled out, turning her in my arms so I could kiss her, the water moving over us and bringing us even closer together.
“That was amazing,” she whispered.
“And I’m not even done yet.”
And I wasn’t. I didn’t think I would ever be done with Myra.
Because all I wanted to do was tell her how I felt, what I needed, what I thought I could give her. Only I still didn’t think I was enough for her.
I didn’t say anything, simply captured her lips with mine and did the only thing I could. I cared for her. I washed her hair and her body. I took care of the woman I loved.
And I hoped to hell that she’d forgive me enough to love me back someday.
Chapter 17
Myra
* * *
“This one’s stunning,” Arden said from my side as she went over one of my canvases in my studio.
I took a step toward her and smiled. “This is one of my favorites. I painted it rather quickly, the idea coming to me after a rainstorm.” I paused. “That sounds wishy-washy.”
Arden met my gaze and shook her head. “It sounds how you need it to be. There’s nothing wrong with finding inspiration in things around you. Not to mention, it’s a beautiful piece. It’s far more abstract than your others, but I like it.”
I nodded. “Sometimes, I just want to see the mood rather than a portrait or landscape. It all depends on what I’m looking at when I decide I need to paint.”
“I think this one might be my favorite. I can’t decide. And the fact that I can’t tells me this was a perfect idea. Thank you so much for letting me shop in your studio for Liam.”
“Thank you for wanting a piece for the Liam Montgomery.”
Arden snorted. “Oh, yes, make sure you tell my husband that to his face. I don’t think his ego is quite big enough yet.”
I laughed. “I’m sure you’ve stroked his ego as much as needed.” I paused. “You know, if Nate or Liam or any of the other guys were here, or even Paris for that matter, they’d probably make a stroking joke.”
“The fact that you said that at all pretty much makes the reference for itself,” Arden said primly, and then we both broke out into laughter.
“Seriously, thank you. I’ve been trying so hard to think of what to get Liam for his birthday, but the man has everything that he could ever want.”
“I know what you mean. Nate’s birthday’s coming up, and I can’t decide what to get him. He doesn’t want much, and when he does, he buys it for himself. Then I have to be creative, and I’m like, do I want to get him a painting when it’s my work rather than something fun?”
“It can be both, but I completely understand. Do you let others shop in your studio often?” she asked, taking a look at a landscape I had painted the year before.
“No, not really. Or ever. I paint pieces for the girls individually, but you’re the first to shop in my studio when it doesn’t have to do with an art show.”
Arden froze, and looked over at me, smiling big. “Wow, I’m doubly honored. Thank you.” She paused. “Why are you letting me?”
I shrugged and looked over the pieces. “Because you’re Nate’s twin, and because I like you.”
Arden smiled wider, her eyes going kinder if that was even possible. “That’s sweet. I love that you and Nate are back together,” she said suddenly, and I froze.
“It feels weird sometimes to think that we are,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk since the two of you got back together.”
I looked around the room, memories flooding in of the time before. “There isn’t much to talk about.”
Arden snorted. “Okay, well, that was a complete lie.”
I grimaced. “A complete lie.” I sighed.
I didn’t know what else to say.
“It was odd not telling everybody what had happened between the two of you so many years ago. It wasn’t my place to say anything, and I never did.”
I looked at her and met her gaze. “I’m sorry for putting you in that position. You didn’t deserve that stress.”
“It didn’t stress me out. It didn’t hurt me at all. But I hated the idea that either of you was in pain. Because while I know my brother unequivocally believed what he saw in those photos, it didn’t make sense that you would do that to him.”
I pushed back tears and nodded. “Thank you for saying that.”
“He underst
ood, too. That’s probably why he was so blindsided. Why it hurt so much.”
“Perhaps. I’m still so upset with my parents for doing such a thing.”
“I’d be upset, too. Probably more than a little. As it was, I hated you right alongside Nate for a while until I realized it wasn’t my place to cast judgment on anyone.”
Pain ricocheted through me, but I nodded tightly. “You thought I had hurt your brother. Your twin. I’d probably have hated me, too.”
“And that would have been wrong. It was wrong. All because your parents wanted something for themselves.” She paused. “Something I hear is still the case.”
I rubbed my hands over my thighs and gestured for her to join me in my little seating area in my studio. We plopped down on my comfortable couch, and I groaned. “I don’t understand them. My parents are well-off. Far more than I am.”
“And yet, they want more. Maybe they merely want the power that comes from knowing they can lord things over you. But now, you have that power in your hands. You’ve taken something from them, at least in their mind, and it shifted the dynamic.”
I rubbed my temples. “Either way, it’s a mess. And, eventually, I’m going to have to deal with it. Probably in court or in person. There’s only so much I can do through my lawyer.”
“Try not to let them get to you.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“As long as they don’t push their way into your life and break what you have, you’re going to come out the other side stronger.”
I looked at Nate’s sister and smiled. “I hope that’s the case. I hope we can all push this behind us and move on and into whatever our future needs to be.”
Arden opened her mouth to say something and then shook her head.
“What?” I asked.
“That seemed like the perfect segue to ask what your intentions are with my brother and how you’re feeling. But then I realized that sounded too much like prying. So, never mind.”
I blew out a breath. “I don’t have answers for you. I wish I did, but I need some time.”
“And neither of you took any time before. I’m glad you are now. I love my brother, and you’re part of our family now, Myra, even if it’s not through Nate. You’re our friend. We have a connection. And we don’t want you to get hurt either.”
From Our First: A Promise Me Novel Page 16