Without any words, Mack moved closer. His erection bobbed and rested on my chin when he stood in front of me, straddling my legs. His hands fisted in my hair as he angled my head and pushed the tip past my parted lips. My tongue swirled around the head, and I moaned at my first taste of him.
He guided himself in and out of my mouth. Without the use of my arms, all I could do was give myself over to him and take him exactly how he wanted me to. Using his grip on my hair, his hips pumped and my mouth sucked.
He stopped when he was deep in my throat. So deep that my nose rested against his pelvis. I looked up and met his gaze. “That’s it. So pretty. I love watching your lips wrapped around my cock. Better than I thought it would be,” he crooned. I hummed my approval at his words, and he cursed before pumping faster.
All too soon he pulled out and began untying me. Guiding me towards the antique sideboard near the entryway, his hands cupped my breasts from behind. The brushing of his palms across my nipples had heat surging through my veins. Even though I wanted to reach behind me and take him in my hands, my need to have him tell me what to do took precedence, so I refrained.
His warm chest pressed into me and bent me over at the waist. His hands moved mine, so I was gripping the edge of the sideboard. Then they journeyed down my sides and over my legs before widening them. The furniture was lower, causing my ass to stick further up in the air.
My eyes closed, and my breath shuddered as he kissed down my spine. When his teeth sank into the right cheek of my ass, I yelped followed by a moan. The telltale sound of crinkling let me know that even though his left hand slowly stroked the bare skin of my hip, I was about to get exactly what I wanted. No needed. In that moment, I needed him in me. There was no other way to explain it.
“Take me,” I begged when both his hands started roaming over my body.
“Anticipation,” was his only answer.
“Now,” I demanded breathlessly. His left hand cupped my breast while his right delved back between my legs driving me out of my mind.
“My way,” he reminded me.
A growl full of frustration came from me when his hand continued to work me over. It was good, but I needed more.
He chuckled lightly in my ear as his lips danced across the skin behind it. I felt him position at my entrance and blessedly his hips surged forward and he plunged inside me to the hilt.
“Christ.” That one barked word in my ear was enough to cause a tremor through my nether regions. He had to feel it because he smiled against my skin before straightening. His hands gripped my hips, he pulled out slowly and then thrust in hard and fast. Over and over again. I was mindless.
Incoherent words from me and low grunts and pants from him were all you could hear over the slap of skin on skin.
“Tip your ass up more, buttercup.” Following directions, I did just that and felt him slip in a little deeper. Each stroke felt more amazing than the last. I never wanted it to end. The idea would have scared the shit out of me had it not been for the fact that my orgasm was building so fast that I knew it was going to consume me—completely and utterly. No question about it.
“Christ,” he cursed again as my pussy clenched tightly around his shaft with my climax.
In that moment, the earth moved under my feet. You might think that’s an exaggeration, but it’s not. It honestly felt like an earthquake as I stood there shaking and trembling with my release. It. Was. Phenomenal.
Mack stilled, planted himself fully inside me with a grunt, and I felt his cock twitching inside me with his release.
His heat hit my back as he leaned down over me. I allowed myself a few moments to absorb that heat. Take it in and relish in the feel of it. I had never felt so content before. I couldn’t even describe it. Still couldn’t whenever I looked back on it. All I know is that sated was a tame word for it. The peace that overtook me was so overwhelming I felt tears prick the back of my eyes, and I swallowed hard as I fought them back.
When he pulled out, I stood up and turned around. His smirk was cocky, but it was also slightly goofy as he looked at me. Something about the mixture of the two made it even more potent.
“Bathroom?” He asked, and I pointed him in the right direction.
I had my panties and bra on when he came strutting back into the room still gloriously naked.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Getting dressed,” I answered and then handed him his jeans and shirt. “Here.”
He shook his head and set the clothes aside. “We aren’t done.”
“You sure about that?” I inquired not wanting to show him how excited I secretly felt that he wasn’t planning on leaving yet.
“Positive.” He held his hand out to me and in that moment I didn’t care about no strings and no attachments. Instead of overthinking it, I reached out and took his hand leading him up to my bedroom where he proceeded to show me just how not done we really were.
Chapter Three
“Hi, mom,” I said into the phone that was propped between my ear and shoulder while I filled a glass with water.
“Hi, sweetie.” Her soft voice washed over me and just like always, I instantly missed her. “I’m not bothering you am I?”
“Never,” I assured her. “How’s Paris?”
“It’s Paris.” She sighed. “Your father wants to stay longer. I’m ready to come home. I miss my baby.”
Pain laced my chest as a memory came to me of my mother softly telling Rachel and I that she couldn’t wait to get home because she missed her babies. Every single time my parents traveled and left us with my grandmother she said that. Without fail. Now I was her only baby. Guilt quickly swooped in and mixed with the pain to make me nauseous.
“I miss you too,” I forced out past parched lips.
“So what’s new?”
“Absolutely nothing. Still working and volunteering. It’s about all I have time for these days.” My face heated knowing that wasn’t all I had time for. My mother didn’t need to know that I’ve seen Mack five times in the last two weeks. Each time I told myself that was it, he would contact me again and I changed my mind. And it was not disappointing. At all. He actively demonstrated the benefits of giving myself over to him and submitting to his every whim.
“I wish you would have more of a life, sweetie. Rachel would want that for you.”
A sob worked its way out of my chest, and I quickly moved into an empty room of the women’s shelter I was volunteering at so that no one could hear me losing it. The shelter was an older home in the city that wasn’t overly large, so it was rare to find an empty room since it was always so full of women and their kids seeking a safe place. At that moment, I was grateful I was fortunate enough to have the privacy.
Why would my mother bring Rachel up? She knew what it did to me. It wasn’t fair of her.
“Mom…”
“No. Hear me out. Ever since Rachel died you’ve been hiding behind your work. You cut off all your old friends. You never date—that I know of anyways,” she added as an afterthought. “You need to stop blaming yourself and start living again.”
“It is my fault,” I hissed into the phone.
“But it’s not. I wish you would see that. You didn’t do those horrible things to her.” Her voice broke mid-sentence, and I felt tears prick my eyes as my heart squeezed painfully in my chest.
“I can’t talk about this right now, Mom. I’m working,” I semi-lied. “I’ll call you tomorrow and you can tell me all about the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. And how romantic dad’s being.” My father loved to woo my mom. It was sweet really.
“Fine,” she sighed heavily knowing she wasn’t going to win. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I pocketed my phone and took a minute to compose myself before heading back to the kitchen where Kara Andrews was waiting for me. If she wasn’t the kindest person I knew, I’d hate her based on her looks alone. Her gorgeous, red, curly hair is long and thick, and her blue eyes shine w
ith contentedness, especially since she and her boyfriend, Jacob Matthews, got engaged a week ago. She’s absolutely, stunningly beautiful and I had to admit it made me jealous. It sucked being short and petite. I looked absolutely nothing like her with her curves that went on forever.
“Hey,” I said as I joined her and Marie, a twenty year old mother of two whose high school sweetheart and baby daddy was anything but sweet.
“Everything all right?” Kara asked with concern in her eyes.
“Of course.” I pasted on a bright smile and changed the subject. “Where did Dylan go?”
“He’s around here somewhere,” Marie answered in reference to her adorable toddler.
Sitting in the chair across from her, I leaned forward. “Has Mike been trying to find you?”
Marie shook her head and gave me a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not that I know of. I called my mom the other day on the untraceable phone and she said he hasn’t been back to her house this week. I know I should hate him for hitting Dylan and me, and I do, but I still love him too. It hurts so bad that he’s given up. It makes me feel like I’m not enough. It’s like I’ve never been enough for him.” Tears welled in her eyes and poured down her cheeks.
“Oh, honey,” Kara said softly and wrapped Marie up in her arms.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a sappy mess.” Marie let out a watery humorless laugh. “I’m pathetic.”
“No, you aren’t. Everyone goes through this, Marie. Every single woman who comes through here finds herself on the wrong side of love. That doesn’t change the fact that what they feel is real. You love him. He gave you two beautiful children. Focus on that. Just remember regardless of the fact that you love him and miss him, being with him is not healthy for you or the kids. He needs to find help to deal with his issues. And they are his issues. Not yours,” I emphasized.
“Thank you for being so understanding. My family means well but they are always lecturing me instead of listening to me. It feels good to be heard again. I better go find Dylan before he tears the place apart.” She stood up and both Kara and I followed suit. After a hug for both of us, she moved away towards the stairs where Dylan was surely playing around. I swear the kid looked for the most effective ways to give us all a heart attack.
“You want to talk about the phone call you just got?” Kara asked once we were alone.
“Not particularly,” I answered her. Even if I wanted to discuss it with her, there was no guarantee we’d be alone for long.
“You are the best at getting people to spill their guts and the worst when it comes time for you to do the same.”
I shrugged, not wanting to have this conversation at all.
“Whatever, Megan,” she huffed at my silence. “Just know I’m here for you whenever you need someone to talk to.”
“Thanks,” I murmured feeling awkward all of a sudden.
“I know! You should come out with us tonight. Jacob’s in a dart league at Murphy’s on Thursday nights. It’ll be fun!”
“I don’t know…” I hedged. “Who else is going?” If I was actually going to consider this, it needed to be a small group otherwise I would feel out of place and uncomfortable all night.
“Well, a bunch of people from his precinct make up the team so there will be quite a few officers there. I’m going with Brad and Sophie. They got back from their honeymoon last night. Please say you’ll come.” She turned pleading, puppy dog eyes on me.
Thankfully, I knew Jacob’s friends, Sophie and Brad, from the time Kara invited me to her apartment for a dinner party. Plus the idea of potentially getting to see Mack was pushing me towards saying yes. I desperately wanted to ask if he was going to be there, but there was no way for me to do it without letting on about us fucking. We hadn’t really discussed it, but I could tell discretion was Mack’s middle name.
“Please,” she begged.
“If it will stop you from acting so pathetic I’ll say yes,” I joked. Kara swatted my arm.
“You’re lucky you said yes or else I’d have to kick your ass for that statement.”
I laughed because ever since Kara completed her self-defense classes after her attack, she had been threatening to kick everyone’s asses. I was glad she felt so empowered.
“As you can see I’m shaking in my boots. What time should I meet you there?”
“Eight o’clock. Be there or be square.” She giggled as she hugged me goodbye and started for the door.
My mom would be glad to know I was expanding my horizons and going out when I told her. Butterflies danced in my stomach as I thought about surprising Mack if he was there tonight. I couldn’t wait.
* * *
Murphy’s is an older Irish pub in the heart of D.C. A bar runs the length of the right side of the front room, while tables with red checkered cloths and wooden chairs make up the right. In the back are more tables for patrons, two pool tables and apparently darts.
With some trepidation, I found Kara, Sophie and Brad at a table in the back. I took a deep breath and headed towards them.
“Hi!” Kara yelled out and pointed out a chair for me to take.
I sat down after greeting everyone and glanced around at the different teams either playing darts or grouped around waiting to play. I was not looking for Mack. Nope, definitely not.
Keep trying to convince yourself of that.
“Jacob’s team is over there,” Kara pointed out and my eyes went in that direction. Jacob slapped someone’s back while they laughed at something. Three other people rounded out their group, and none of them were Mack.
Disappointment filled me until the person whose back Jacob slapped turned around, and I saw it was John Katz, Rachel’s ex-fiancé.
“Oh my God!” I jumped up and ran over to where they were all standing. John’s face registered shock before he gave me a smile and wrapped me up in his arms.
“Tweedledum,” he whispered in my ear and my breath hitched at his use of my childhood nickname. Rachel and I loved Alice in Wonderland growing up. Our parents called her Tweedledee, since she was a few minutes older, and me Tweedledum.
I pulled back and settled my hands on his forearms. His hands rested on my waist. “What are you doing here?” I asked with a smile still on my face. Looking him over, he looked just as good as ever. Blond hair, green eyes and plenty of muscle. He was only a few inches taller than me at five feet eight inches. He and Rachel were perfect for each other in every way, right down to their mutual affection for one another.
“Moved to the city a couple of months ago. I figured your parents would have told you.”
“They didn’t. It doesn’t matter though because you’re here!” I couldn’t believe it.
When I moved to D.C. after my grandmother died four years ago, it seemed like a great way to escape the memories of Rachel in our small town in Virginia. It was also a good move for my career. I saw far more cases at Sibley Memorial than I ever did at the County Hospital that took me forty-five minutes to commute to.
What sucked about it was not only leaving behind my parents, but also leaving John behind. He was the only friend I didn’t distance myself from after my sister died. His grief over Rachel’s death is what cemented our bond beyond our being friends since we were eight years old.
It had taken months before I would even return his calls after it happened. The grief was so palpable in those early days that I barely left the house. I couldn’t muster up the strength and courage to face him after I was reckless enough to get my sister killed. It wasn’t until he stormed down my parents’ house and demanded I stop ignoring him that I finally gave in. From that point forward, we leaned on one another and comforted each other.
“How do you two know each other?” Jacob asked. I broke from John’s hold and turned to face him. John’s arms wrapped around my waist. Jacob noticed it and gave a small smirk incorrectly assuming what our relationship was all about.
“I’ve known this squirt for a long time. The firs
t time I met her, she had pigtails, glasses and was missing her front teeth.”
I rolled my eyes and punched his arms. “And he was picking his nose, had a tail, and liked to eat worms.”
John laughed and squeezed my waist. Jacob smirked and shook his head. “Sorry I asked.”
“Seriously. He’s like my brother. I take it you two work together?”
“Yeah. We’re both detectives at the same precinct,” John answered.
“Shit. Kara’s getting hit on over there.” I followed his line of sight to see that someone was indeed hanging on Kara and not taking a hint. “I’ll be back.”
We watched as he went over and intimidated the crap out of the guy, both of us laughing.
“You living in Margaret’s place still?” John’s question pulled my attention back to him.
“Yeah. Still have the same number? I’ll have to invite you over for dinner on my next night off so we can officially catch up.”
“I’d like that.” He pulled me tight into his arms again and kissed the top of my head.
“I could use a drink. You want another beer?” I pulled out of John’s hold to make my way to the bar.
He took his wallet out and handed me a twenty dollar bill. “My treat.” He held out his mostly empty beer bottle to show me what kind he was drinking. I winked at him and went to get us drinks.
Standing at the bar, I flagged down the bartender and ordered two beers. Waiting for my change, I jumped when warm breath danced against the skin of my neck. “Tell your friend you’re leaving. I want you naked and lying on your bed in exactly thirty minutes.” The word friend was said like it tasted bad.
“And if I say no?” The words came out breathlessly as my body tingled with anticipation.
“Punishment.” A full body shiver worked through me. One word, highly effective.
“I can’t waste my beer,” I argued.
Mack positioned his hands on either side of my body and leaned into my back, getting as close as he could to me. My belly pressed into the bar, and I thought he might kiss me, but after several seconds he plucked a bottle from in front of me. “Now you have no excuse.” I jumped when he landed a smack on my butt, and then I was watching his back saunter away with my beer.
Bound in Blue Page 3