by S Cinders
The raised the gurney and placed oxygen over Mandy’s face much to her ire. She didn’t want to have oxygen. She just wanted her damn ankle to stop hurting. And she didn’t like the way that everyone was fussing over her.
They wheeled her to the elevator with Elliot, Mrs. H, and Robert hot on their heels. Once they arrived in the lobby, they loaded Mandy into the ambulance.
Her look of sheer panic cut Elliot to the core.
“I am going with her,” he demanded and began to climb into the back of the ambulance.
Mandy’s eyes widened in horror. Shakily she removed the oxygen mask despite the redhead frowning at her.
“You have the Gala tonight,” Mandy said breathlessly.
“Fuck the Gala,” Elliot replied in an instant. “You are a million times more important than any of that.”
Mrs. H and Robert shared a surprised look. The Mr. Brand they knew would never miss the Haven shore Gala. It had been created by Elliot’s own mother to help single mothers better their work environment.
“Call Nate,” Elliot instructed Mrs. H, “Tell him to deal with it.”
And then the doors were shut, and the siren’s flipped on as the ambulance raced through the city towards their local hospital.
CHAPTER 17
Nate didn’t hesitate before smashing his lips against this infuriating woman. If she wanted passion, he could bring it in spades. The way she gasped when his lips met hers gave him access to those plump, juicy lips and he plundered inside not waiting for an invitation.
Kim clung to his naked chest, her fingers reveling in the heat of his body and the hard curves of his muscles. She couldn’t believe that someone has handsome as Nate would want anything to do with her.
Kim’s breasts tightened, and her nipples puckered as he drew her closer against that rock-hard chest. She had never been kissed like this and hadn’t known it existed outside of the pages of a steamy romance novel. Her hands explored his back, loving how he reacted to every light touch of her fingertips.
His mouth which had started out insistent and even a little demanding had mellowed a fraction so that he tasted her, drank from her lips as if she were the finest wine he had ever consumed.
His hands slipped down to her ass. Kim’s backside had been haunting him for days and he couldn’t help molding the globes, wishing that it were her skin he was touching and not the material of her jeans.
She whimpered in her throat, and Nate felt like a king. Kim wanted him, and he knew it as much as he knew he had to have her. But Nate didn’t want to rush it. He wasn’t interested in a quick fuck. With his face and body, he could get that anywhere. He wanted to give her what she had asked for—passion.
His hands came up, one hand cradling the back of her neck to tip her head giving him further access to the regions of her mouth. The other slipped into her hair, feeling the silky blonde strands that curled around his finger, much like he wanted to be curled around her.
The kisses had his blood racing, his heart pumping, and his cock throbbing with need. He could think of a million ways he wanted to taste her, to have her.
Kim’s fingers slipped inside the elastic waistband of the sweats that were much too small for him. She heard him hiss and his grip increase as she stroked the top of his ass with her fingertip.
In an instant, she was whipped around so that his erection rested against the crack of her ass. He kissed his way down her neck, and she couldn’t help reaching her arms up and wrapping them around his neck.
“I want you so fucking bad,” his voice was gravelly as he gave her open mouth kisses on the sensitive skin. “I want to bend you over this table. I want to lay you on the countertop and lick every inch of you. I want to watch your eyes darken with need and hunger as I lap at you between your thighs.”
Kim’s couldn’t help her body’s response to his words. Her panties were soaked, and she was aching for him to touch her, fill her.
“I want you under me as I pound into you, Kim,” Nate gently bit the fleshy part of her ear. “I want to watch your tits bounce as you ride my dick. Are you sure you want to make a deal with a man that would have you every possible way and still hunger for more?”
Kim response was instant, “Yes, please, yes, I want you, Nate. Everything you said, yes, yes, yes!”
He turned her back around to stare into her eyes. They were stormy and pleaded with him to ravish her.
Just as he bent to kiss her again, his cell phone began to ring. He ignored it and gently took her lips anyway, melting into her so that there wasn’t a lick of space between them. It wasn’t until her cell phone began to ring that she pushed him away.
Frowning, she walked over and picked it up, “Hello?”
Nate watched as the blood drained from Kim’s face.
“Is she alright? We are on our way!”
Nate didn’t hesitate when Kim grabbed her purse and yelled at him to get in the car. It was only when they arrived at the hospital that he realized he was still shirtless and in sweatpants that left nothing to the imagination.
Security stopped him at the door, something about not having shoes and health code. Kim tossed her keys to him without thinking and raced to where they said her sister was resting.
Nate eyed the security guards. One was glaring at him like he was pedophile the other winked and mouthed call me. With a shudder, Nate went back to Kim’s car, but this time drove to his apartment. Larry, the doorman let him in because his keys were still back at Kim’s. He quickly changed his clothes into a t-shirt and jeans and grabbed some cash.
This time he remembered shoes.
By the time he had returned to the hospital, they were getting ready to discharge Kim’s sister Mandy. She had a sprained ankle, but they had kept her for observation to make sure that the baby wasn’t harmed.
Thankfully, everything had gone well. Elliot had even called Dr. Roberts in to look her over.
Kim wanted to insist that Mandy come home with her. She worried about her sister and the closeness that seemed to be developing between Mandy and her employer. But she knew that with the housekeeper and butler, Mandy would be better-taken care of at Elliot’s.
Besides the fact that he could call the OBGYN at any moment if necessary.
Mandy had blushed all over the place, insisting that it wasn’t a big deal and she felt terrible for scaring everyone.
Nate glanced at Kim’s sister. She was very pretty and terribly thin. He hoped that she was eating enough. In his life, it seemed that there were too many women that went without meals to fit into an unattainable size.
As an expectant mother, Mandy would be doing herself and the baby harm.
Kim looked tired after she kissed her sister goodbye with the promise to call in the morning.
Nate wrapped an arm around Kim’s waist and escorted her back to her car. Settling Kim into the passenger seat, he went around to the driver’s seat and started the car.
“Has your sister always been that thin?” he began hesitantly.
Kim was automatically defensive, “She has a hard time gaining weight!”
Nate made a left turn and glanced back at Kim’s angry face, “I don’t mean to imply anything.”
“Yes, you do!” Kim refuted hotly, “You just implied that my pregnant sister was starving herself.”
Nate sighed, “Look, I don’t want to fight. I just—my cousin died from anorexia, and I am a little sensitive to it.”
Kim’s outraged expression faded, “Oh, I am sorry, Nate. That must have been terrible.”
“It was,” he said simply.
“Mandy has always been small,” Kim opened up a little. “I suppose that is why I am so protective of her. She was bullied in school, and we didn’t have the best home life. But I promise you, the girl eats. I guess she is lucky when it comes to her metabolism.”
Kim glanced down at her rounded hips and blushed.
Nate followed her gaze, “I don’t think she is lucky. When a man sinks into a woman, he wa
nts something to hold on to.”
Kim’s eyes flashed to his, and a shy smile crept across her face, “is that so?”
“Damn truth,” his eyes met hers for a second before returning to the road.
“The woman my, I mean, Andrew had an affair with is much skinnier than I am. In the back of my mind, I can’t help but think that might be why he left.”
Nate’s hands tightened on the wheel, but he was silent the last few minutes they had left before pulling into The Grind. Just as Kim was about to open the door, Nate stopped her.
“Andrew was a fucking idiot. He had the cream of the crop at home and went to wallow in pig shit. You are lucky to be rid of him, Kim. He doesn’t deserve to lick your boots.”
Kim’s eyes filled with something that looked suspiciously like tears and a touch of hope.
She had to swallow twice before speaking, “Thanks, Nate, not just for your words. But for coming with me, I haven’t had someone to rely on in a long time. Andrew would have stayed behind.”
Nate’s eyes met hers as he passed Kim the keys. He didn’t speak, but his smile held promise, and Kim tucked that away into the secret treasures of her heart.
CHAPTER 18
The first delivery came at noon the following day. Boxes and boxes that had both Mrs. H and Robert in a frenzy.
“Mr. Brand never celebrates the holidays, Mandy,” Mrs. H said as she opened up yet another package with yuletide cheer. “I can’t imagine what has come over him.”
Robert had been relatively silent as far as comments go, but he moved with a peppier step and had begun to whistle Christmas carols under his breath.
The final delivery was a twelve-foot Douglas fir. Its scent filled the spacious penthouse with thoughts of the forest. The earthy pine smell had been just what was needed.
Elliot had called to check on Mandy no less than three times that morning and every phone call she had seemed more and more withdrawn.
The truth was that Mandy had awoken to feel irritated at herself for such a stupid accident. Not only had Elliot missed the gala, but Nate had as well. Nothing was said to her about it, but she caught a snippet on the news that morning.
There was quite a bit of speculation as to where the playboy billionaire had been and whom he had found more important than his mother’s charity.
Mandy hadn’t said a word to Elliot about catching the story. She knew full well that his publicist and public relations team would be all over it.
But it had been her fault, and she was well aware of it.
So, when the boxes began to arrive, Mandy had been disinclined to participate. That was until she saw what had been sent.
“Where should we place the tree, Mandy?” Robert glanced her way, “I was thinking perhaps in the foyer?”
“In front of the windows,” Mandy replied, “So that the lights can reflect off the glass and people outside can share in its beauty.”
Robert had called a few men in to assist him with the décor, and they immediately began moving the tree to where Mandy had specified.
Once the fifteen strands of lights were added to the tree, the reflection in the floor to ceiling windows was mesmerizing.
The ornaments that had been delivered from Neiman Marcus were a mixture of Faberge Eggs and hand painted Christopher Radko’s latest collection. Everything was seen to, the garlands, wreaths, even a sprig of mistletoe that caused Mrs. H to give Robert’s cheek a small peck. The butler had blushed three shades of red.
Mandy’s poor mood had dissipated throughout the afternoon as she helped to supervise the decorating from her position on the couch. Elliot had refused to allow her to go to work that morning, much to her dismay.
But all thoughts of work had fled, and once the last ribbon was hung Mandy settled down on the couch and watched the sparkling lights until her eyes grew heavy.
Elliot arrived home an hour later. He opened the door expecting to see the holiday decorations, hell, he had sent them. But, he hadn’t been prepared for the attack of past that enveloped him.
His mother had always been keen on celebrating each and every holiday. After she passed, he hadn’t the heart to continue the tradition. It reminded him too much of what he had lost. But walking into his home, with all of its fineries displayed so beautifully, and the woman who haunted his dreams sweetly sleeping on his couch had his gut clenching in an unfamiliar way.
He glanced over at the mantle over the fireplace and noted that they had handwritten Mrs. H, Robert, Elliot, and Mandy a stocking in gold letters.
Elliot had to swallow twice before setting his things down and walking into the kitchen to greet the staff and grab a much-needed beer.
Mrs. H glanced up from cooking when she saw him enter, “Good evening, Mr. Brand, it was a kind thing you did today.”
Elliot opened the double refrigerator and grabbed a drink, “Did she like it?”
Mrs. H raised a brow, “She was upset this morning, and understandably so. I wish you could have seen the light in her eyes as each box was emptied. You would have thought the poor girl had won the lottery.”
Elliot kicked himself for not being there. Indeed, he would have loved to have seen Mandy’s reactions.
“Where is Robert?” Elliot asked noticing that the older gentleman hadn’t greeted him upon entering.
“He went to the pharmacy to pick up Mandy’s medication. Dr. Robert’s called a mild painkiller in that would be safe to use during pregnancy.”
Elliot nodded and went to respond but was interrupted by a sleepy voice coming from the doorway.
He turned around and saw Mandy standing there with a wrinkle on her cheek and just fucked hair. She was stunningly gorgeous without a lick of makeup and in yoga pants pulled under her belly and one of his t-shirts.
“I don’t need any painkillers,” Mandy frowned before limping in and sitting in the chair that Elliot had pulled out for her. “I told Dr. Robert’s that at the hospital.”
Mrs. H didn’t tell Mandy that Elliot had her call the doctor’s office today to ensure she would have the medication if she needed it.
Elliot smiled and abruptly changed the subject, “Did you have a nice day?”
Mandy’s face brightened, and she leaned toward him, “Elliot, I cannot believe what you sent to us. I can’t remember when I have had a better day. My parents rarely did anything for Christmas. When we were little, the school would do Sub for Santa, but my parents would return everything and keep the money. I have never had a tree before!”
Elliot’s chest tightened. He knew that her upbringing had been different than his. But with every revelation, he could picture the thin younger version of her trying to make do without presents or decorations.
“We like to celebrate here,” Elliot fibbed, and Mrs. H choked on a laugh behind him. He turned and gave her a stiff glare.
Mandy’s brow furrowed, “They said that you had never had a tree before.”
Mrs. H, bustled over, “I real tree. This is our first year to have a live Christmas tree.”
Elliot was thankful for the save and well aware that he was revealing far too much of his hand to Mrs. H.
“Are you feeling up for company?” he asked Mandy.
She looked down in horror at her outfit. Her hand went up to touch the wild blonde strands.
“No!” she wailed.
“Not even your sister?” Elliot added.
“Oh!” Mandy laughed, “Of course, I am always up for Kim to come over. What about the coffee shop?”
“I believe that Nate has convinced her to hire another part-time employee. So, since she opened, she has the evening off.”
“Kim called a little while ago to check on you,” Mrs. H added bringing plates of parmesan chicken, salad, and steamed vegetables to where they were sitting at the informal kitchen table.
“I should call her back,” Mandy smiled sheepishly, “I didn’t return her call this morning. I was a tab bit cranky.”
Elliot wisely took a drink of his b
eer not responding.
Mrs. H broke into laughter, “More than a tad bit, darling. But you seem to have come around.”
Mandy blushed, “I am sorry if I was a bear.”
“Not at all dear!” Mrs. H brought over a plate for herself, and they began to eat. “I am just grateful that you are feeling better.”
Elliot couldn’t take her eyes away from Mandy as she ate. Every move was unconsciously seductive, from the moan of delight at the chicken to her licking her fingertips to get the dressing that had splashed there.
He was hard and hadn’t taken more than a handful of bites from his plate.
Elliot was starving, but it wasn’t for parmesan chicken.
CHAPTER 19
“Can you grab another box of medium-sized cups?” Kim called out to Nate who was still in the back.
“Sure thing, Sweetcheeks,” Nate hollered back.
Kim closed her eyes in exasperation, but she didn’t say anything back. He had been trying to get her goat ever since that night when they raced to the hospital for Mandy.
Kim knew that it had been a mistake to proposition the man. She didn’t even know what she had been thinking.
Well, she did. She was horny as hell and wanted a piece of his fine ass. It was too bad that his caustic attitude came along with it. Now that he knew she wanted him, Nate was relentless.
He had smacked her ass, flipped her bra and Kim halfway expected him to tug on her ponytail. She wished that he wasn’t so fucking endearing with his attention. Half schoolboy, half sex god, it was a heady mixture that she was struggling to combat.
Nate hadn’t brought up the fact that she asked him to teach her about passion. But it was there in his eyes every time he looked at her. The need and want that resided there was beyond indecent and Nate did nothing to hide it.
Kim supposed that she should have seen it coming.
Andrew hadn’t been back in the shop for weeks. She didn’t know what he was expecting, but it certainly hadn’t been his soon to be ex-wife looking better than she had in years. And worse, she was accompanied by a man who easily could have played Captain America in the movies.