Before he could respond, Megan straightened and clutched her purse in front of her. “So again, thank you.”
His mouth hung slightly agape, and his eyes were clouded with bewilderment. She had no idea why she’d never seen him as the sorry excuse for a man he was. But she sure as hell saw it now.
“Good-bye, Niall.”
Chapter 24
Megan was quiet as they drove back to her apartment. James didn’t say much either.
He was grateful that she had stopped him from hitting her ex. Niall Dempsey would have cleaned him out for touching one perfectly manicured hair on his body. James would have lost the garage, his car, his bike, his house. But worst of all, he’d have to explain to his seven-year-old son why he’d chosen to hit someone and go to jail rather than calm himself and be the bigger man. Tonight, he’d been the bigger man, but only because Megan had forced him to be.
He glanced over at her as she looked out the passenger-side window. She appeared…calm. For all the turmoil that swirled in his mind, Megan sat next to him pensively studying the passing buildings and storefronts. He was pretty sure she’d been upset back at the bar, but now she wasn’t. Was she angry at him? Indifferent?
After parallel parking outside her apartment, he turned off the engine and sat back in his seat. A moment of silence passed before he sighed. “I’m sorry I lost my temper back there.”
She looked over at him with an amused laugh. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
She sounded appalled that he’d even think of apologizing, but he was still ashamed of the way he’d handled himself.
In that moment, James wanted to take all her pain away. He wanted to protect her and keep her safe. He wanted to make it so she never had to worry about anything again. He had no idea when she’d become so important to him, but damn it, she was.
Megan took a deep breath. “You know, that type of thing is going to happen again. Someone from my past is going to show up, say something horrible to us, or look at us disapprovingly. That’s a price you’ll have to pay if you want to be with me.”
He reached over and took one of her gloved hands. “We all have a past, Megan. You have a high-profile ex-husband. I have a chemically dependent ex-wife. We both carry baggage into this relationship. It’s not always going to be easy.”
She nodded, looking blankly out the front windshield. “I hate that you had to get tangled up in my fight.”
“Sweetheart, I’d gladly weigh into any fight or pay the small price of dealing with your ex if it means being with you.”
The sentiment surprised him. So did knowing he truly felt that way. But he was glad he’d said it. She needed to hear she was worth the effort.
Her eyes smiled. He hoped she found the reassurance she was looking for in his face, because a chill was settling inside the car, and they needed to move their pity party upstairs and turn it into a different kind of party.
“Wanna head inside?” he asked.
“Let’s go.”
They made their way into the apartment building and stepped inside the tiny elevator. James leaned on one side of the car while Megan stood across from him. He purposely kept his hands off her, knowing that if he started now, they’d be interrupted by roommate introductions. So instead, he just stared at her and drank in the hunger in her eyes that was a reflection of his own.
When the elevator reached the fifth floor, he followed Megan to her door and waited patiently as she unlocked it. Her apartment was dark when they entered except for a tiny sliver of light that shined underneath her roommate’s door. She shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the coatrack before reaching for his.
“Do you want anything to drink?” she whispered.
James shook his head, putting his hand on the small of her back to guide her into her room. Pushing the door shut behind them, he found her hand and pulled her toward him.
He needed to touch her, to run his fingers through her hair, to take in her warm, comforting scent. For so long, he’d craved her when she wasn’t around, and it had thrown him off-balance.
Now that she stood right in front of him, a calm settled in his bones. Even though he wanted her desperately, he felt as if he had all the time in the world. But just like the old saying went: Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
“Why does this feel like it’s the first time we’re doing this?” Megan whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He nuzzled his nose against hers. This did feel different. To him, it’d been a hundred years since he’d last had her, and that was a hundred years too long. He tugged at her dress and slowly lifted it up her body and over her head. She was left in her black satin bra and a pair of dark leggings that sat high on her waist.
He inched her backward and helped her lie down on the low mattress. One foot at a time, he slipped off her boots. Standing, James pulled his shirt off and removed his shoes.
Megan rubbed her legs together, her eyes feasting on his bared torso. He liked that she was looking.
Releasing a quiet whimper, she raised her hips and slid her tights down her legs. She kicked them to the side and leaned back on her elbows, continuing to press her sexy legs together.
Her eyes danced with fire as she watched him unbutton his jeans. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips as he slid his zipper down. Hooking his thumbs in both the waistbands of his briefs and jeans, he pushed them down his hips and stepped out of them. With her nostrils flaring slightly, she let out an audible breath.
His erection rose proudly, and he could tell she liked what she saw. He reached for her panties, tugging them down her legs. Resting both his hands on the bed beside her hips, he placed a kiss to the side of her navel. He heard a moan as her abdomen tightened under his touch.
Working his way north, he slid his hands behind her back and unhooked the clasp on her bra. The straps fell from her shoulders as she hastily pulled them off.
He usually loved foreplay. Loved taking his time, removing an article of clothing piece by piece. But tonight, he wanted to feel her against him. And he wanted it as soon as fucking possible.
Her pale, smooth skin shone in the dim light coming in from the window. She looked ethereal, like a ghostly siren. As she removed her hair tie, her long, blond hair cascaded around her shoulders like satin ribbons.
“You’re so quiet,” she purred. “Usually you’ve made me blush fifty times by now with your dirty talk.”
He crooked an eyebrow and smirked. “What do you want to hear, sweetheart?”
She pulled her lips in and batted her eyelashes at him. “I want to hear what you’re thinking right now.”
Planting a knee on the mattress between her legs, James crawled over her body. Her hands skimmed up his chest to cup both sides of his face. He let some of his weight rest on top of her and closed his eyes at the exquisite feel of her skin against his. Her hardened nipples pressed against his pectoral muscles with every even breath she took.
“I’m thinking you’re the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured, touching his forehead to hers. “I’m thinking you probably have no idea what you do to me on a regular basis.”
Her warm breath grew harsher against his lips as he ground his erection into her thigh. “I’m thinking that if I don’t get inside you within the next thirty seconds, my heart might actually stop.”
James closed his eyes and let all his other senses run on high alert. He felt her silky skin along the entire length of his. With every deliberate intake, he swam in her sugary scent. He could just barely hear the subtle hum of her breath being pulled in and pushed out of her lungs.
Without opening his eyes, he nuzzled his way to her ear, running the tip of his tongue against the delicate lobe. She inched her hips higher in a silent plea for more contact, and he was all too happy to oblige. Repositioning slightly, he settled his pelvis between her thighs, instantly feeling her heat. His hand traveled south along her rib cage to the outside of her hip. With a squeeze, he u
rged her to lift her knee and open more for him.
“Sweetheart, are you on birth control?”
“No,” she said, breathlessly. “We need to use a condom.”
“Maybe we can work on that birth control, yeah?” He ground his erection against her core, feeling her small patch of hair against his scorching-hot skin.
Her back arched, her breasts pressed against his chest. “Mmm-hmm.”
After pushing back off the bed, he reached for his jeans and dug a condom from his wallet. Not wasting a second, he tore the packet open and tossed the empty wrapper to the floor. His shins rested against the edge of the mattress as he stood above her. Taking his length in his hand, he stroked himself once, then twice, watching how Megan’s eyes flared.
“Are you teasing me, James Foley?”
He smirked down at her as he slowly and painstakingly rolled the condom over the head of his cock. “It’s called delayed gratification, baby.”
Pursing her lips, she let her legs fall open and exposed her glistening sex. The smirk fell from his face, and his erection throbbed in his hand. James shoved the condom down the rest of the way and sunk to his knees on the mattress.
“Now who’s teasing?” he asked, gripping the backs of her knees and yanking her toward him.
Spreading her legs wide, he positioned his hips. He heard her breathing pick up as he aligned himself at the opening of her wet folds.
He pushed his tip in, feeling her warmth close around him like a vice. Her body wanted to pull him deeper, yet he resisted. Squeezing her thighs, he moved an inch farther before withdrawing. He slowly rocked back and forth, watching her eyes close and her gorgeous form move underneath him.
Looking down at where they were merged, he watched himself enter and retreat, enter and retreat. And then she did something that had him swallowing his tongue.
With a soft moan, he watched his girl run her fingers over each breast. While one hand pinched her nipple, the other hand traveled lower over her stomach and started to circle her clit. It was the hottest fucking thing he’d ever seen. He let her pleasure herself a little while longer as his tip teased her entrance.
Releasing one of her thighs, he gripped her wrist and brought it to his lips. Her eyes flew open and watched as he closed his mouth over her fingers. James could taste her arousal on his tongue and he sucked hard.
“James…” she breathed, lifting her hips off the bed. “Please.”
He was done playing. He let her wrist go and moved over her, bracing his hands beside her head. He plunged his hips forward. Her whole body shifted up the bed at the force behind his thrust.
“Fuuuck,” he groaned, dropping to his elbows. “God, you feel good.”
“More,” she begged.
James obliged, moving into her in long, hard strokes. His rhythm was relentless. His tempo like a fucking metronome. With every thrust, she writhed. He took her arms and held them above her head. Their breathing synced. Their panting echoed one another.
Too soon, he felt the familiar coil of pressure in his abdomen. Still he pounded into her, loving how her body welcomed his every thrust. Her mouth fell open, and he watched as her breath started to run away from her.
“I’m right there. Oh, God, I’m close,” she forced out.
She was trying desperately to hold off her orgasm, just like he was. Three more thrusts were all it took until her breath caught, and he watched Megan fall over the precipice. He continued his movements as her face went beautifully slack with pleasure.
One more hard thrust, and he let himself go over the edge. His vision faded to black as his entire body tightened with his release. His orgasm was like a slow-moving storm. Instead of blowing through in the blink of an eye, it sat and swirled above him like a tumultuous spiral.
When his body uncoiled and he started to come back down, his muscles grew heavy. He gently lowered himself on top of her, hoping to God his weight wasn’t too much. He just needed a minute to compose himself before his brain started working again. He was still inside her, and he wasn’t sure he ever wanted to leave.
“That”—Megan paused, trying to catch her breath—“was amazing.”
James wasn’t going to disagree with her. In fact, he would probably have to call that the best he’d ever had.
“You could say that again,” he breathed against her neck.
“That was amazing.”
He pulled back and looked at her grinning up at him. “Do you always do what you’re told?” he teased.
She giggled. “Only when it pleases me.”
He felt his cock twitch inside her. She must have too because she stopped laughing and her breath rushed out.
He liked the sound of that. “Guess that means I’ll be working extra-hard to please you.”
Chapter 25
“Thanks for understanding, Quinn,” Megan said, using her shoulder to press the phone against her ear.
Due to financial constraints, Megan could only afford one plane ticket to Boston. Her cousin’s wedding wasn’t until the end of May, so she was skipping the bridal shower next weekend.
After dropping the three grocery bags into the trunk of her car, she slammed the lid closed. If she didn’t slam it like the Incredible Hulk, it would keep popping back open.
“Don’t even worry about it,” the bride-to-be replied. “The shower is just a formality. As long as you’re there for the wedding, that’s all that really matters.”
“I wouldn’t dream of missing the wedding.”
“And honestly,” Quinn continued, “I’m not sure why Katherine insisted on having the bridal shower so early and in the middle of March. They’re calling for snow next week!”
Megan laughed as she slid behind the wheel of her car. “Why my mother does anything is anyone’s guess.”
“I’m beginning to realize that. All right, I gotta jet. But thanks so much for calling. I’ll send you some pictures after the shower.”
“I’d love that. Take care, Quinn.”
After getting off the phone, Megan turned the key in the ignition. Click, click, click, click, click. Frowning at the dashboard, she tried again. Click, click, click, click, click.
Shit.
Sitting back in her seat, she thought for a second. It was almost six o’clock, and the sun was just starting to go down. Luckily, daylight savings time had started or it would be pitch-black by now.
After school, Megan had walked a couple blocks south to the grocery store to pick up a few things she needed for dinner. She walked because parking was always chaotic and she hadn’t planned on getting that many groceries to carry back. James had promised Cade they’d go to a basketball game, so it was just her and Calli tonight.
Remembering James had told her that their game didn’t start until eight o’clock, she quickly pulled out her phone and dialed his number. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey, sweetheart.” The sound of his low, masculine voice sent flutters up her spine.
“Hi, James. I think I have a problem with my car.”
“What’s it doing?”
“It’s clicking at me.”
She heard him laugh. “Okay. Is the car running? Not running?”
“No, it won’t start. When I turn the key, it just clicks.”
Megan tried the ignition again. Click, click, click, click, click.
“Yeah, I hear it,” he said with a sigh. “It sounds like a dead battery. Either that or it’s the alternator. Let’s hope it’s the battery.”
“What do I do? I’m still at school.”
James started to curse but stopped himself. “Cade and I are already at United Center. I’m gonna give my dad a call to see if he can come help you out.”
“All right, thank you. I was hoping to catch you before you left.”
“Sorry, babe. Cade wanted to stuff his face with pulled pork nachos so we came early.”
She smiled. “Okay. I hope you guys have tons of fun. Go team!”
“Sweetheart,” he l
aughed. “It’s the Bulls. Go Bulls.”
“That’s what I meant.”
“All right. I’ll call my dad. If you can’t go back inside the building, then sit in your car and lock your doors, yeah?”
“Will do. Thanks again.”
James cut the line, and Megan hit the automatic locks on her doors. She wasn’t sure how long this would take, but all she could think about right now was going home, eating dinner, and going to bed.
It had been a long week at school. The kids were starting to get cabin fever like they did every year around this time. She couldn’t really blame them. The flux in temperatures and the unpredictable forecast of sunny days and snow were wearing her down too.
She must have dozed off in the driver’s seat, because she nearly jumped through the roof when a light knock sounded from her window. She saw Abel Foley standing outside her door. Putting her hand to her chest and trying to get her racing heartbeat under control, she unlocked her car and opened the door.
“Sorry there, young lady. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay. I swear I just shut my eyes for a second. I must have dozed off.” She stepped out of the seat and made room for Abel to do whatever he needed to do. “Thanks so much for coming. I hope I’m not keeping you from something important.”
“Nope. I was just gonna watch the game at home.” The older man sat down in the driver’s seat and tried the key. He got the same clicking that she had. “It’s just a dead battery. I’ll give you a jump.”
Megan stepped back so Abel could get out. He’d parked his truck right in front of hers and pulled some long cables out from the extended cab. After popping both hoods and hooking up the cables, he started his truck and came back to where she stood watching the entire process.
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