Whatever You Need (The Haneys Book 2)

by Barbara Longley

  “Don’t cry.” He drew her into his arms again and rocked her gently. “Please don’t cry. I never stopped wanting you, you gotta know that. My plan was to make myself like your shadow . . . always there for you, until you finally gave in and loved me back.” Now that he heard his words out loud, he worried. “That’s not crazy, is it?”

  “No. It’s sweet, and these are happy tears,” she muttered against his shoulder.

  “I know, but if you keep this up, it’s going to make me cry too, and then my superhero image will be all shot to hell.”

  She laughed through her tears and backed out of his embrace. “Never. You’ll always be a superhero in my eyes.”

  “And a sex god?” He took her hand again, and led her to his bathroom.

  “Yeah, about that. Have you been holding out on me?” She looked askance at him, frowning. “For a shy guy, you sure do know your way around a woman’s body. How is that?”

  “I’ve had lots of practice.”

  “What?” She blinked. “The shy thing is all an act?”

  “No.” Shrugging, he flashed her a sheepish grin. “I have a vivid imagination, that’s all. And I’ve done . . . research.”

  “Hmm.” She wasn’t sure what to make of his claim. “I told you when I lost my virginity. When did you lose yours?” Why it mattered, she couldn’t say, but suddenly it did.

  “Kayla . . .” He got the shower ready. “Does it matter?”

  “Right now it does.”

  “I’d rather not say.” His face reddened. “Can we let this go for now, and come back to the conversation another time, like never? We have a soapy shower coming up. We can play car wash.” He winked at her.

  Kayla arched a brow. “When?”

  “All right.” His shoulders slumped. “I lost my virginity about ten minutes ago.”

  “No.” Still skeptical, but inordinately pleased, she shook her head. “You knew what you were doing, and you did it really well. And when I say really well, I mean life-altering, mind-blowingly well.”

  “Thank you.” He grinned. “Like I said, I’ve had a lot of practice . . . in my fantasies. Visualization is a thing. Athletes do it all the time to improve their performance.” He held her in his arms again, this time cupping her bottom. “I know all kinds of stuff we can try out together.” He waggled his eyebrows and kissed the tip of her nose. “Now, let’s shower, and then I’ll make you dinner. Afterward, you can put my claims to the test.”

  A half hour later, clean and clothed, Kayla sat at Wyatt’s dining room table, the sandwich he’d made sitting in front of her. Wyatt explained what he’d done toward buying their building. She glanced at the flyer he’d placed beside her plate. Munching on a pickle spear, she read through the financial part. “You talked to everyone in our building?”

  “I did. Without a hood on, I might add. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this, and I wanted you to see it as the declaration I meant it to be—that I’d do whatever it took to convince you we’re perfect for each other.”

  “I’m convinced, not to mention grateful and amazed. All right, I’m in, but I’d like to move from the second to the first floor, since the two seniors are leaving anyway. You and I would only be across the hall from each other then.”

  “I’d like that. In a couple of years, when both our condos have been updated, we can sell, and come out of the deal with a nice chunk of change to put down on a house with a yard. Brady needs a yard and a tree house. He can help me build it. Wouldn’t that be a blast? We really need to get him his own fishing pole too.” He glanced at her, his expression shy. “What do you think?”

  “Sure. Let’s do that.” Her eyes misted up again. He wanted her. She hadn’t believed she’d ever get to experience the kind of joy that sent her heart racing, and here was her hero, envisioning a future for the three of them. A brand new kind of happiness bloomed within her. And man, was that her heart opening up, expanding all at once? Wyatt was such a loving man, the best. She could hardly believe her luck.

  Somehow, after all the crap she’d been through, she’d ended up loving and being loved by the most amazing guy in the entire universe. She had to come up with a word for this. Something the opposite of BAM, an expression for the good stuff happening in her life: Brady, Wyatt, school . . . their future together. Something to think about anyway, and she would, because every minute she spent with Wyatt the desire for such a word grew. “I need a thesaurus.”

  “Why? Are you going to take up writing?”

  “No, I just want to look up something.”

  “I have a thesaurus in my studio, and another one on my desktop computer. You’re welcome to use both.”

  “Thank you.” She grinned. “Now, about those sex things you mentioned we could try out together . . .”

  He dropped what was left of his sandwich and did that sexy, deep growling thing again.

  She laughed, shot up off her chair and let him chase her to his bedroom. Her life with him would always be good. Maybe not always easy, but worth any struggle that came their way.

  Late Tuesday afternoon, all their neighbors, and Josey and Sam, gathered in Wyatt’s apartment. Sweat beaded on his brow, and he glanced at Kayla to steady his nerves. She nodded and smiled encouragement.

  He’d texted his siblings as soon as Kayla had fallen asleep last night, informing them that “he” was now a “we.” His chest swelled with a mixture of pride and love. He couldn’t wait until Brady came home, so he could do fun things with his new pack.

  Hippie guy Dennis sat on the ottoman, and he even wore a shirt today. The other residents were scattered around the room. The two seniors from the first floor were the only ones absent. Even Erik from across the hall had joined them. Mariah sat on the couch, with Rosie on her lap. Kayla took up the spot next to her friend.

  Wyatt paused before launching into his spiel, considering how far he’d come in the past couple of months. Though he sometimes had to force himself not to pull it up, he no longer hid inside a hoodie. Let people look at his scars if they wanted to. He knew who he was and where he wanted his life to go. Besides, Kayla kept telling him how good-looking he was, and as long as she saw him as hot, that’s all that mattered.

  He held up his hand, calling for quiet. “OK, here’s what’s going to happen next,” he began. “The listing agent will be here in about twenty minutes, and we’re going to write up a contingent offer for our building together.”

  “What does the contingent part mean, man?” Dennis asked, looking puzzled and a little alarmed.

  “It means the deal depends upon our securing financing. Each of us must go through the process of being approved for a mortgage, and that will take time. If we aren’t all able to qualify, we’ll have to write up a different offer with only those who do, or we’ll lose our building to another bidder.”

  Wyatt leaned over and took a handful of half sheets of paper from the coffee table. “On that note, I made up a list of several local mortgage brokers.” He handed them to Josey. “If you don’t already have someone you want to work with, take one and pass them along.”

  While the list of brokers was being distributed, Wyatt mentally checked off the topics he needed to cover.

  Erik, his neighbor from across the hall, held up his hand. “For those of us who just found flyers under our doors, can we talk about what we plan to do with the general fund?”

  “Good question, man,” Dennis added, nodding.

  “Well, for starters, we need to address unsafe conditions, like the cracked and crumbling front and back concrete steps and sidewalks.” He summarized the rest of what needed to be done to bring the building up to date.

  Sam came to stand beside him. “Besides needed repairs, a general fund is necessary for the upkeep of common areas, water, garbage pickup, hallways, snow plowing in winter and lawn upkeep in the summer—stuff like that,” Sam told the group.

  “Everyone will have access to the financials at all times,” Wyatt added. “Once we own the bui
lding, we’ll set up a website for members.” He surveyed the group. “You’ll each have a vote as to how our money is spent.”

  “Sounds good, man,” Dennis nodded again, propping his hands on his knees and sitting up a little straighter. “It’s like we’re going to be a commune.”

  Wyatt struggled not to roll his eyes. Thankfully, the security buzzer for the front door went off. “There’s the listing agent. Jo, will you let Steve in?”

  Josey pushed herself off the wall she’d been leaning against and hurried down the stairs to the front door, and Wyatt added, “I’m going to have him set up here at the coffee table, so if a couple of you wouldn’t mind, let’s make some room.”

  “He can have my spot,” Kayla said, rising from the couch. She came to stand beside him, and he put his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. He needed to touch her. Somehow, she grounded him. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”

  “I can’t believe you’re finally doing . . . that,” Mariah quipped, pointing at his arm around Kayla.

  “Finally is right.” Wyatt laughed. He leaned in and whispered in Kayla’s ear, “Love you.”

  “I love you too. After everyone leaves, there’s something I’d like to try tonight,” she whispered back.

  “Oh?” His pulse sped up. “What’s that?”

  Kayla leaned close. “My turn to taste.”

  Heat rushed to his face and to his groin simultaneously, and his knees went a little weak. “I’m willing to give that a try.”

  Kayla laughed. “I love that I can make you blush.”

  “It’s a good thing you do, since I can’t control it.”

  Jo ushered the realtor into the living room and made introductions. Steve set a briefcase on the coffee table and pulled out a stack of official-looking documents, and the excitement in the room grew.

  “You know what?” Wyatt drew Kayla closer. “Today we’re making an offer on our future. That’s pretty amazing. Three months ago, I never could’ve seen this coming.”

  “Me either,” Kayla said wrapping her arms around him.

  “You know what’s even more amazing?”

  “No, what?”

  “You.” He held his future in his arms, and that was worth more than any piece of property he could imagine.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Wyatt awoke Thursday morning to the sensation of having his face peppered with sweet kisses. Kayla’s naked, luscious curves were snuggled against him, and he looped a leg over hers and drew her closer. He could definitely get used to wrapping himself around her each night, with her warm, soft skin next to his. Her hands roamed all over him, finally slipping between their bodies to stroke his morning wood. He could get used to that too.

  Keeping his eyes closed, he smiled. “I could become a morning person for you.” He shifted slightly, giving her better access. Kayla’s husky laugh in his ear sent sparks of desire cascading through him.

  “You mean you aren’t normally a morning person?” she asked, taking his earlobe between her teeth.

  He shivered and groaned. “Not even close.” Caressing her full breast, he ran his thumb over her nipple. “What time is it? The alarm didn’t go off, did it?”

  “It’s only six, but I have to get going.”

  He opened one eye a slit and thrust against the palm of her hand, which she was using to drive him crazy. “By ‘get going,’ I’m assuming you mean . . .” He thrust again, hoping she’d pick up on the hint.

  Chuckling, Kayla sat up and reached for a condom from his nightstand. “Well that too, but then I need to get ready for school.” She tore the foil packet open with her teeth, took it out and unrolled it slowly down his aching hard-on while caressing his testicles.

  He had to be the luckiest man on the planet, because his woman woke up all hot and ready to rumble. Wyatt pulled her in for a long, heat-producing kiss and some much-needed petting. He came up for air several moments later and nuzzled her temple, working a hand down to where he knew she liked to be teased and touched. “Did you know I’ve had the biggest crush on you since the day you moved in?”

  Kayla moaned and pressed closer, a sexy smile lighting her face. “Couldn’t help noticing Ms. M appeared in your comic books around the same time I arrived.”

  He pinched a nipple, then licked the hardened bud, reveling in the way Kayla’s breath hitched in response. “I tried so many times to talk to you. I wanted to ask you out so badly, but it took a fire to make it happen.”

  “Ahhh, that feels so good, Wyatt.” She rolled on top of him and leaned in for a kiss. Her hair tickled his shoulders as her tongue swept into his mouth to tangle with his.

  Caveman Wyatt took over, and he flipped them both so he was on top. They’d tried a lot of different positions in the past couple of days, but for now, this was still his favorite. He nudged her knees apart and plunged himself home. “Love you, Kayla.”

  “Love you, Wyatt.”

  Two hours later, Wyatt pulled into the Woodbury Hills development where he’d be working for the next few weeks. He was still high over being coupled up, and Kayla filled his every waking thought. Tonight he planned to wine and dine her. Yep. Shy guy had a date with his girlfriend. Girlfriend. Wonder of wonders, he’d gotten the girl. Hmm. She’d look great in a Wonder Woman costume.

  Too bad he didn’t really know how to whistle, because if he did, he’d be whistling a happy tune right now. Turns out, sex was every bit as amazing as everyone claimed. Though he suspected the quality of his and Kayla’s lovemaking far surpassed that of most mere mortals, what with him being a sex god and all. Grinning, and now a little turned on, he walked into the house he and his siblings would be working on today.

  “Good morning,” he called cheerfully to the crew setting up for the day. Sam and Josey stood among them. He joined his brother and sister, put his toolbox on the subflooring and strapped on his tool belt.

  “Morning,” Josey said. “Have you heard anything from the realtor yet?”

  Jo’s question only heightened his buzz. He, shy Hoodie Guy, had organized the collective offer on their building, and soon they’d learn whether or not it had been accepted. “No, not yet. We should hear any day now,” he said. All his joints and limbs were loose, relaxed. Sex must be good for him, because he’d never felt this good before in his life, and he couldn’t keep the grin off his face.

  Josey scowled. “I can’t even be around you right now.” She grabbed her tools and stomped off.

  “What’s wrong with Josey?” Confused, he watched her go. What’d I do?”

  “She’ll get over it.” Sam grunted. “Ever since you traded in your ‘I’m solo’ card for that shiny new ‘party of two’ ID, you’ve worn that half-drugged, man-getting-plenty-of-sex look. I’m getting married, you have a girlfriend, and Josey is having a hard time with all the changes. Her love life is stalled out.”

  “Oh.” He continued to stare down the hall after her. “I hadn’t thought about that. We’ll have to make a point of it to spend time together, just the three of us.”

  “Yeah, like it used to be,” Sam agreed. “It’s nice to see you’ve finally given up your security blanket.”

  “Huh?” His gaze swung to his brother.

  “The hoodies. You aren’t wearing them anymore.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  “Let’s get to work.” Sam strode off down the hall toward the bedrooms.

  Wyatt’s hand went to his scars. Every day without the hoods got easier. He unpacked the box of light fixtures for the kitchen and got busy.

  By ten, he’d finished with the kitchen light fixtures and outlets and moved on to a bedroom to install a ceiling fan and light fixture combo. He’d just set up his ladder when his phone buzzed and vibrated. He pulled it out of his back pocket. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Wyatt. Steve Andrews here. I wanted to talk to you about your group’s offer. Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure.” A rush of adrenaline hit his bloodstream. He was about to learn
whether or not he would soon be a property owner.

  “The owners are not outright rejecting the offer, but they plan to continue showing the building to see if any other bids come in while your group gets their financing together. Once the contingency is out of the way, they’d like the tenants to present a new, noncontingent offer.”

  “OK. Fair enough.” His stomach dropped.

  “This is not unusual in situations like this. Let me know the second everyone is preapproved, and we’ll write up the new bid right away and overnight it to them.”

  “I will. Thanks for all your help, Steve. I’ll let everyone else know what’s going on. Call me if anything changes.”

  “Count on it. It’s not over yet, Wyatt. Encourage everyone to act quickly on getting qualified, and don’t be discouraged.”

  “All right.” Yeah, he already was discouraged. Pushing his disappointment aside, he ended the call and brought up his e-mail. He entered the e-mail group for everyone involved in the offer and composed a quick note to bring them up to speed. Everyone except hippie Dennis, of course. Dennis didn’t believe in computers, e-mails or cell phones. Something about being able to hack into his business, man, and Big Brother being out to get him and all that.

  Wyatt shook his head. What a character. He hit Send, and then he went back to work. He’d tell Sam and Josey about the call over lunch. Dang. He’d hate to lose their building, but at least he’d get to keep the girl. He went back to work, certain he still wore the drugged look of a man getting plenty of loving.

  Showered, shaved and dressed, Wyatt sat at his drawing board, inking in the blue of Elec Tric’s superhero costume. Kayla would knock on his door soon, and he wanted to get as much done as he could before their date. In this chapter, Elec Tric had rescued the Mysterious Ms. M from Diabolical Delilah. His superhero’s mission now was to persuade Ms. M back to the side of goodness and light. Once Elec Tric brought her back from the dark forces, the two would become partners in the fight against evil and tyranny.