by T. K. Leigh
“Mmmm… A man could certainly get used to this,” I commented.
“You better,” she responded.
I closed my eyes and inhaled Mackenzie’s hair. I had a new fondness for the scent of cinnamon.
Mackenzie
I LUXURIATED IN MY bed, not wanting to leave it for anything. Yesterday felt like a complete blur. So much had happened. From lunch with Tyler, to dinner with Tyler, to sleeping in the same bed as Tyler. Regardless that the circumstances for him spending the night were of a protective nature, I reveled in the fact that his presence made me feel safe and secure.
A few low voices sounded from down the hall, forcing my eyes open. I tilted my head, my gaze falling on the vacant side of the bed where Tyler had slept the night before. Frowning, I got up, about to head down the hall toward the voices. Then I caught a glimpse of my disheveled appearance in the mirror, and I prayed I didn’t look so unkempt the previous night.
Dashing into my en-suite bathroom, I adjusted my hair into a sensible ponytail and brushed my teeth, not wanting Tyler to be put off by my morning breath. Rechecking my reflection in the mirror, I was much more pleased. I opened the door and strolled down the hallway to investigate who Tyler was speaking with in the living room, shocked to see a new window already in place.
Hearing me enter, Tyler and Eli turned around to face me. A brilliant smile spread across Tyler’s mouth, and he looked incredibly sexy with his hair rumpled and a light stubble on his jaw.
“Morning.” He winked. “Coffee?” He started toward the kitchen and I didn’t know how to feel about the fact that he had seemed to make himself at home in my condo. The part of me that wanted him to be my turtledove was doing cartwheels and backflips, singing At Last. But that part was at odds with my cautious side.
“No. Not that one,” I said when he opened the cabinet and grabbed a mug.
He looked at the mug in his hand. “Is there something wrong with it?”
“No. It’s just…” I went to the dishwasher, pulling out a faded mug that had seen better days. “I always drink coffee out of this one.”
Not questioning it, he took it from me and placed it beneath the brewer. “Let me guess… You’re a two-percent girl, right? And use a natural sweetener?”
“How did you know?” His knowledge of my quirks and habits was starting to scare me a little.
“You have two-percent milk in your refrigerator. And a bunch of these packets by your coffee maker.” He beamed, holding up a pouch of my sweetener of choice.
“You’re a regular Sherlock Holmes, aren’t you?” I commented sarcastically as he poured a bit of milk into my mug.
“Yes, and you remember my Watson.” He gestured to Eli, who was surveying my home, making notes every so often.
“Miss Delano,” Eli said, nodding at me.
“Nice to see you again,” I said, taking my mug from Tyler, savoring that first sip of coffee.
“I hope you don’t mind. I asked him to come and evaluate your home to see what sort of upgrades you should make to your security system. Is there a reason the service has been turned off?”
“Tyler,” I said, placing my mug on the kitchen island. “I appreciate the trouble you’ve gone to, but I can’t afford it. Not right now. The restaurant just opened so it’s going to take some time until we see a return on our investment. I don’t have another source of income to fall back on like Jenna. All of my money is tied up in that restaurant.”
“Mackenzie, that’s not a good enough reason for me. Eli will have the updates completed and will activate a service with my security company. No questions asked. You won’t ever see a bill. It’s the least I can do.”
“Tyler…,” I said once more, rubbing my temple with my fingers. I hated the thought of him thinking I was a charity case.
“This is not up for discussion,” he said firmly, almost growling. “The system is being turned on and there will be a massive overhaul to make it one of the best security systems out there. Nothing you say will stop this from happening so save your breath, Mackenzie.” He crossed his arms in front of his heaving chest, his green eyes fierce and blazing down at me.
My face flushed at his tone and I abruptly grabbed his hand, yanking him down the hallway and into my bedroom.
Once the door was shut and I was confident Eli couldn’t overhear us, I threw myself at Tyler, his hardened expression turning into one of passion. Savagely pressing my lips against his, our tongues collided in a frenzied dance. He lifted me up and the sound of items crashing to the ground echoed as my back hit the wall.
“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever heard,” I panted once Tyler tore his lips from mine, sucking on my neck and earlobe. I should have been angry at him. Hell, I should have been absolutely livid, but I wasn’t. “I love it when you go all protective on me.”
“Really?” he asked, the surprise in his voice apparent. His hands roamed my frame, scorching my skin. “I thought you’d hate the idea of anyone taking charge.”
“Who said I was letting you take charge?” I asked, grabbing his face and forcing his lips back to mine as I thrust against his midsection, feeling that familiar bulge. “It’s just so hot that you… I’ve never…”
I looked down, trying to collect my thoughts.
“You’ve never what, Mackenzie?” Tyler asked, gripping my ponytail and forcing my head back. I stared into his eyes, unable to escape telling him what I was thinking.
“I’ve never wanted anyone to think I wasn’t a strong person. That’s why I’ve always maintained complete control of everything in my life. But with you, I want to let go…and it scares me and turns me on at the same time.”
He lowered his head and nibbled on my shoulder. “You like it when I tell you what to do, don’t you?” He pulled back, raising his eyebrows. “Like yesterday in the car?” He poised his lips on mine. “When I told you to touch my cock? You liked that, didn’t you?”
My eyes remained glued to his and I nodded, seductively biting my lip.
He tugged on my ponytail again, craning my head up even more. “Tell me,” he growled.
“Yes,” I admitted, my voice firm, “I liked it when you told me to touch your cock.” I was tired of trying to keep everything in its place, living my perfectly ordered world where I controlled every minute detail, from what was for lunch on Saturday to how many reps I did of certain exercises at the gym. I wanted to stop being that person. I wanted someone else to carry that burden, even if for just a short time.
“Fuck, that’s hot.” He covered my lips with his, his hands exploring my body, settling on my chest. “No bra?” he murmured, finding my nipple through my tank top and squeezing lightly.
I threw my head back and moaned, feeling the sensation course from my breast through my toes and everywhere in between.
“That’s fine when it’s just us, but you’re never to walk around braless again, especially when you’re wearing a top this thin. Got it? I don’t share and I don’t want my employees fantasizing about what’s mine.”
“I didn’t agree to be yours,” I reminded him, still lost in the moment, my protest weak and unpersuasive.
“You will, Mackenzie.” He carried me from the wall and threw me onto my bed, crawling on top of me. He lifted my tank and took a nipple between his teeth, tugging gently. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you will agree to be mine for more than just one night.”
He continued his relentless torture of my body, a warm glow spreading through me. One minute, he was biting my nipple, causing a shooting pain; the next, he was affectionate, his tongue reverently kissing and licking where his teeth had been.
I wrapped my legs around his midsection, thrusting against him. “I want you,” I breathed. “Right now. I need you.” I was ready to agree to anything, as long as I could continue to feel the pleasure I did at that moment.
“I need you, too,” Tyler said, his fingers trailing down my stomach and settling on the waistband of my shorts. He slipped his hand
just inside and I raised my hips, letting him know I wanted him to take them off. Clumsily, I reached for his shirt and began to rip it from his body, but he stopped me. “But not today.” He grabbed my hips, pinning them back to the bed, sitting up.
“You have got to be kidding me,” I said in exasperation, my eyes wide in disbelief. “You can’t possibly tell me you’re going to be able to walk away from me. I’m ready to burst, Tyler.”
I shot up from the bed and climbed on top of him, moving against his erection. I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling him to me. I felt like an addict who was jonesing for her next fix. He was the only one who could extinguish the fire that had been spreading through me since our first encounter.
“Mackenzie, that’s exactly what I’m telling you. I’m not saying it will be easy. It’s actually very hard.” He raised his eyebrows at me in a joking manner and I laughed at his double entendre.
“But I want the first time I’m inside you to be something you’ll never forget, and I can’t take care of you the way I need to with one of my employees standing in the living room. I need to get you alone and make you completely relaxed.” He planted a soft kiss on my neck before whispering, “That way, you can finally let go. Isn’t that what you want?”
“Yes,” I whimpered.
“Okay. I want you to shower and get ready for your trip. Then come back to the kitchen and I’ll have breakfast waiting for you. Sound good?”
“You’re going to make me breakfast? You know how to cook?” I asked, pursing my lips.
“Of course I do. My mother taught me well.”
“Hmmm…”
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. I just figured you for someone who had a cook prepare all his meals for him.”
“Why? Because I have money?”
I shrugged. “If the shoe fits…”
“Mackenzie, mi cariño, I assure you that I am just full of little surprises.” He lifted me off the bed and ensured that I had proper footing before releasing me from his hold. “Now, shower.” He smacked my ass and I jumped, giggling.
“Okay, you overbearing ape!” I ran into the en-suite bathroom. Allowing the hot water to wash over me, I thought about Tyler and what I would have given to shower with him.
~~~~~~~~~~
THE SMELL OF BACON wafted through my condo as I stepped out of the bathroom, and a warmth spread through me at the thought that Tyler was out there making me breakfast.
I was immediately reminded of a conversation I’d had with my mother over Christmas break of my freshman year of college when I was dating Charlie.
“How will I know, Mama?” I asked as I stood beside her in the kitchen, peeling potatoes.
“Know what, mi amor?”
“You know,” I said, raising my eyebrows at her. “When it’s love.”
“Is this about Charlie?” she asked, a sly grin crossing her face.
“Maybe. I know that I like him. I just don’t know if it’s more than that. When did you know with Papa?”
“The minute I saw him. He was so handsome. But it was more than that. Looks only go so far. Falling in love is about the little things. The way he holds your hand. The way he kisses you. And I’m not talking about a passionate kiss. It’s the soft ones. On your neck. On your temple. On your cheek. Those speak to the heart more so than any full kiss on the lips I’ve ever had. Those say, ‘I’ll never let anything happen to you’ or ‘I’m always going to look out for you’. And in those simple moments, that’s when I fell in love with your father. That, and he always made a dynamite frittata for breakfast.”
Brushing off my memories, I finished getting ready for the day, pulling on a black pencil skirt and a charcoal gray silk blouse. After sliding on a pair of black pumps, I checked my reflection, pleased with the image looking back at me.
Pulling the door open, I strode down the hallway, audibly sighing when my eyes fell onto the work of art that was Tyler’s backside as he flipped over some bacon. He spun around when he heard me walk into the kitchen and a frown crossed my face.
“What is it? Do you not like bacon? I thought you would, considering it was in the fridge.”
“That’s not it. It’s just… I was really enjoying the view.”
He planted a kiss on my temple, reminding me of my mother’s words, and said, “If that’s the case, enjoy away, mi cariño.” He turned around and went back to the stove. I walked around the kitchen island, hopping onto one of the barstools, and simply stared at the exquisite view, thinking it was sinful for someone to have an ass that looked that good.
“Why do you always call me that?” I asked, noticing a fresh cup of coffee had been prepared for me in my absence.
“What? Mi cariño?” Tyler asked, keeping his backside to me.
“Sí. How did you know I spoke Spanish?”
“The way you ordered the wine at the tapas bar that night we met. You had a slight inflection on the ‘r’ sound, where most Texans, let alone Americans, would not. I took a gamble you did, and I guess I was correct.”
“It appears so.” I brought the mug to my lips, my shoulders relaxing when I tasted the coffee.
“So, while you were in the shower, Eli looked around your place and is designing a few upgrades to your security system as we speak.” He turned around and leaned against the counter. “He’s already reactivated the system so it’ll be armed while you’re away.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, his biceps stretching the fabric of his t-shirt.
Getting up from my stool, I giggled. “I’m sorry. Do you mind?”
“Mind what?” he asked, confused.
“I’ve been wanting to do this since I first met you.” I reached out and placed my hands around one of his biceps. I squeezed slightly, thinking I’d feel some soft tissue, but I didn’t. All I felt was hard masculinity in my hands, his muscles firm. Nodding my head, I said, “Yup. As good as I had expected.”
He looked at me quizzically for a brief moment before a loud laugh sounded. “Well, I’m glad I’ve measured up to your expectations.”
“So far,” I said, winking as I spun around and headed back to my barstool.
“So, why are you heading to San Antonio today?”
“Why does it matter?” I asked, inhaling the aroma of sautéed onions, garlic, and peppers.
“Humor me.”
“Fine. The church I went to growing up is saying a mass in my mother’s memory.”
“Is it the anniversary of her death?” he asked.
“No. She passed away in May, almost eight years ago.”
“Birthday then?”
“Can’t a church just say a mass for someone without it being a date of significance?”
“I wouldn’t know. My family never really went to church when I was growing up.”
“In Connecticut, right?”
Cracking a few eggs, he turned around, meeting my eyes. “Checking up on me?”
“No. I just have a gay best friend who loves celebrity gossip.”
“And I’m a celebrity?”
“In his world, yes.”
He grinned. “Yes. My I grew up in Connecticut before my family moved to Boston, he said, returning his attention to the pan and fluffing the eggs.
I eyed him. “What are you cooking?”
“A frittata. I’ve been told I make a really good one.”
I relaxed into the barstool. “Swoon…”
Tyler
“CALL ME WHEN YOU get there?” I asked, turning to Mackenzie outside of her car later that morning.
“You bet,” she responded.
I pulled her body into mine, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
She sighed, melting into my arms.
“I love that,” I commented.
“What?” she asked, her voice serene.
“How you react when I kiss your forehead. Your entire body softens. It makes me feel like, in that small sliver of time, I’m with the real Mackenzie, not the Mackenzie you want everyone
else to think you are.”
She pulled back, opening her mouth to protest, but I pressed my lips against hers.
“It’s okay,” I murmured. “I get it. I’ve been doing the same thing. But you… Well, you make me want to forget about the man I’ve been lately. You make me want to be the real me again,” I confessed, the brutal honesty of my words surprising me.
“What happened?” she asked, pain apparent in her voice.
“The same thing that happened to you,” I replied, my expression distant. “You lost someone you loved. You live every day thinking you could have done something to prevent it, but you realize that won’t bring them back. You’re surrounded by the memories and you feel your world crashing around you, spinning out of control, and you hate that feeling, Mackenzie. You fucking hate it, so you break down and you cry. You cry like you never have in your entire life. Then when the tears finally stop, you look at yourself in the mirror, and the person staring back isn’t the same person you were. And you vow to never be that person again, not wanting to put your heart on the line just to get it ripped painfully from your chest. You try to control every aspect of your life, from what’s for dinner on Monday to who you allow into your bed. You let in the lonely because that’s something you can control. You crave order and routine−”
“That’s why you went into the navy, isn’t it?” she interrupted.
I nodded. “I know exactly what it feels like,” I declared, my chest heaving with passion before my voice began to waver.
“Who was she?” Mackenzie asked softly. Her eyes went to the tattoo on my bicep. “Your angel… Who was she?”
Her question caught me off guard and I abruptly pulled back, instinctively hardening my expression. I hadn’t spoken to anyone about it in nearly six years. And if another six years went by without me talking about it, I would be only too happy.
“No one that matters anymore,” I said, my voice firm. “She’s gone. That’s all you need to worry about.”