Mandy pressed her lips together. “Grady thought of everything. Except … where is your pool table?”
James extended his hand and waited for Mandy to take it. “We added on another little surprise,” he said, leading her toward the door next to the bar. “Instead of a storage room we really didn’t need, we turned this into the gaming room.” James flicked on the lights and showed Mandy the spot where the pool and game tables now lived. The special light she had made with the Hardy brothers’ silhouettes hung over the pool table, and while the room wasn’t big, it was homey. “This way everyone has room to hang out in when they visit the Orca, and then the roosters can come over here to crow while the hens hang out over there and cluck.”
“I see you’ve thought of everything.”
James squeezed her hand. “I have a sign coming for the Orca next week. It’s hand carved. I think you’re going to like it.”
“You named it after Quint’s boat in the movie,” Mandy said. “You knew those were my favorite scenes.”
“That’s not all, wife,” James said, dragging Mandy back into the main room. “Look what’s on that shelf over there.”
Mandy shuffled over to study the ship replica sitting on the shelf James indicated and grinned. “It’s the Orca.”
“It is,” James acknowledged. “We also have vintage photos and a very special something I had added after Grady told me what he was doing.”
Mandy’s eyes sparkled. “What? I know you’re dying to show me.”
James smirked. “Sit on the couch in the middle of the room.”
Mandy obediently did as she was told while James flicked the lights off. When he joined her on the couch she was mildly tense and James didn’t blame her. She’d been through a lot in this room and the darkness left her uneasy.
“Put your head on my shoulder,” James instructed.
Mandy rested her head against his shoulder as he slipped his arm around hers.
“Look at the ceiling,” James whispered.
Mandy expectantly lifted her eyes.
“Put your hand in my boxer shorts,” James said, taking Mandy by surprise.
“What?”
“I had to try, baby. It was too good of a chance to pass up.” James laughed as Mandy squirmed and then hit a button on the remote control he held and smiled as the room lit up.
Mandy gasped when the room came to life, her eyes bouncing back and forth as the underwater scene floated lazily around the room. “It’s like we’re swimming with sharks,” Mandy said, exhaling heavily. “It’s … magical.”
“You’re magical, my baby,” James said, rubbing his thumb over her cheek. “Do you like it?”
“Of course I like it,” Mandy said, swiveling so she faced him. “How could you think I wouldn’t like it?”
“I don’t know,” James answered. “I was worried. I almost had Grady tear it all down twice because I thought you might be angry I changed it without consulting you.”
“James, I know I’ve been hard to deal with, but what you’ve done here is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” Mandy said, her eyes brimming with tears. “Well, I mean after marrying me and loving me, of course.”
“I want you to be happy, baby,” James said. “I’m so proud of you. You have no idea how happy you make me.”
Mandy grabbed the remote from James and tossed it on the end table next to the couch. “You’re about to show me.”
James lifted his eyebrows, amused. “I see. What about breakfast?”
“Breakfast can wait,” Mandy said. “Have you ever had sex with sharks flying around you?”
“No. I can’t say I have.”
“You’re about to.” Mandy grabbed the back of James’ head and slammed her mouth to his, moving her body so she was straddling his lap. James didn’t put up a fight, instead softly caressing her back as he slipped his tongue into her mouth.
Mandy ran her hands up and down James’ bare chest and then broke the kiss so she could tug her tank top over her head. James caught her breasts, palming them as he flicked the hardened nubs with his thumbs.
Mandy growled, making the same noise she did when they played shark in the pool, and James couldn’t help but laugh as he grabbed her around the waist and twisted their bodies so he could press her back against the couch. He returned his mouth to hers, sinking into the kiss as he shifted out of his boxer shorts and climbed on top of her.
He moved his mouth to her neck as she tangled her fingers in his hair, whimpering as he nipped at the soft flesh there and lowered his lips to her nipple. He sucked the turgid bud into his warm mouth, flicking his tongue against it and taking joy in the way she writhed beneath him.
After a few minutes of laving attention on her breasts, James moved lower, tugging on her flimsy sleep shorts until she was completely bare. He ran his thumb over her sensitive mound, smirking when he realized she was ready for him. The sharks, as always, were the perfect aphrodisiac. He had another plan first.
James parted Mandy’s thighs and buried his face between her folds, causing her to cry out as he attacked her hot core. The sharks had done their duty, and it didn’t take Mandy long to fly over the edge of bliss. James held her thighs so she couldn’t buck him off and he kept his tongue flat and refused to give her a break between waves.
“James,” Mandy gasped, reaching to push him away from her. “It’s too much.”
“It’s never too much,” James said, attacking her with gusto and pushing her into a second orgasm before she managed to adjust to the first.
Mandy was panting when James crawled up her body and slid inside of her, both of them groaning in united passion as they joined.
“James,” Mandy whispered, burying her face into the hollow between his neck and shoulder. “James. My James.”
“My baby,” James murmured, slipping his hands under her rounded rear end so he could tip her pelvis up and rub his thumb against her as he began to rock himself between her legs. “I love you, baby.”
James swallowed Mandy’s response with his mouth as he increased his pace. The only sounds in the room consisted of their muted grunts and groans as James dug his fingers into her soft flesh and exploded inside of her. Mandy orgasmed at the same time, wrapping her legs around his waist and refusing to let him roll off of her as they floated back to Earth.
“I should’ve bought interactive sharks for you a long time ago,” James said, smiling when he felt Mandy giggle beneath him. “You were ready for that one, huh?”
“I was ready for all of it,” Mandy said, meeting James’ gaze when he tipped his chin so he could get a glimpse of her face. “I love you.”
She was so earnest James almost gave in and promised her a pet shark for the pool. “Baby, you’re my heart. I couldn’t possibly love anything more than you.”
“That’s good,” Mandy said, pressing his head down on her chest and wrapping her arms around his sweat soaked back. “You have five minutes to rest and then we’re doing that again. Can we pick the type of sharks we see with that remote, by the way? I would like to see some carnage for our next round.”
9
Nine
“What are you going to paint on the wall?” James asked an hour later, another gritty round behind them. He was famished and yet breakfast gladly took a backseat to Mandy’s robust urges. She was so happy and content he would forego food for the rest of his life if it meant she stayed this way.
“I don’t know,” Mandy said, shifting so could rest her chin on his chest and study the wall in question. “There are a lot of options.”
“I think you should paint the scene in Jaws 2 where the shark takes down the helicopter,” James suggested. “That’s my favorite. It’s so implausible … and it totally gets your motor running.”
“I think we’ve proven I don’t need the mural to get my motor running.”
“I’m going to find a way to add shark attack scenes from your favorite movies to the projector,” James said. “There has to be
a way to do it. I’m sure Maverick can figure it out.” Maverick was Hardy Brothers Security’s resident technology guru. He was also unabashedly horny, so Mandy had no doubt he’d be willing to help James get laid more often.
“Thank you for all of this,” Mandy said.
James appreciatively squeezed her bare bottom. “Thank you for being my wife.”
“Oh, puh-leez,” Mandy scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You had my heart when I was fourteen and we both know it.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not my favorite person in the world,” James said, laughing as Mandy wriggled on top of him. He hadn’t felt this good in weeks and he was in no hurry to let the moment go.
“I’m hungry,” Mandy announced, her stomach growling at that precise right moment and making both of them dissolve into laughter.
“I’m hungry, too,” James said, brushing Mandy’s hair away from her face. “I don’t want to leave yet, though.”
“We’re not leaving,” Mandy clarified. “We’re going to the house to get food and then coming back to do it again.”
“I see you’ve decided neither one of us needs to walk tomorrow,” James said. “I’m honestly torn. I’ve never been this comfortable and yet I want to fill you full of food energy so we can come back out here. Decisions, decisions.”
“I want pancakes,” Mandy sang out.
“Then you need to get those rooster and hen things so I can make you dirty pancakes,” James said, gripping her hips and rubbing himself against her. “If you get them, I promise to do whatever you make the dirty birds do when we get back here.”
Mandy laughed so hard she took James by surprise. “Whatever I want?”
“Absolutely,” James replied, growling as he dragged Mandy’s mouth to his. “The filthier the better. I … .”
Mandy and James jolted when the Orca’s door opened. For a moment, they were blinded, both forgetting that the darkness and interactive sharks muted their vision. A figure stood in the doorway, the sun backlighting it. Then a second figure moved in behind the first.
“Omigod!” Madeline covered her eyes and shrieked when she realized what was going on inside of the guesthouse.
For his part, Grady bent over at the waist and belted out a hysterical laugh when he managed to focus on the couch.
“What is going on?” Madeline screeched. “I … is this a brothel?”
James jerked his boxer shorts off the ground so he could cover Mandy’s rear end. “It will be once you get out of here.”
“I have never … this is unbelievable … I mean … what is wrong with you people?” Madeline stomped her foot on the ground. “I’m a business associate.”
“And this is my home,” James shot back. “It’s Sunday.”
“Naked Sunday,” Grady interjected. “I told her and she didn’t believe me.”
“I hired you for a job,” Madeline said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“And yet it’s the weekend and the only thing I’m doing today is my wife,” James said. “Get the hell out of here!”
“You can’t talk to me like that,” Madeline spat. “I deserve some respect.”
“Get out!” James roared.
Grady pulled the door shut after Madeline flounced out, but Mandy and James could still hear him laughing through the thick door. Madeline raved about something as Grady guffawed, but James tuned her out.
“I hate that woman,” James muttered.
“The good news is now we can eat.”
“Get dressed, baby,” James said, kissing her cheek. “I’ll get rid of Madeline while you find the pancake things. I’m not joking about doing whatever you want.”
“That’s why you’re a good husband.” Mandy pinched his cheek and jiggled it.
“I’m going to kill Grady for bringing her here,” James grumbled, slipping out from beneath Mandy and sliding into his boxer shorts. “He knew what we were doing and he brought her anyway.”
“I think he did that on purpose.”
The statement surprised James. “Why?”
“Because he wanted Madeline to see us together,” Mandy answered. “He’s worried she’s still after you and wanted to send a message. My guess is that she called him and demanded to see you so he set this up as payback.”
“That’s an interesting theory, baby,” James said, leaning over to kiss Mandy’s forehead – and use his index finger to look down her tank top for good measure. “Do you have a sweatshirt or something in your studio to cover yourself up?”
Mandy nodded.
“Put it on,” James ordered. “I’m sending Grady up to talk to you while I deal with Madeline. I don’t want him seeing your goods.”
Mandy giggled. “My goods?”
“You know what I mean,” James said. “That tank top doesn’t hide anything. That’s why it’s my favorite item of clothing you own.”
“And that’s why I wore it today,” Mandy said, pushing herself up from the couch. “I’ll get the pancake molds and cover my goods. Get Madeline out of here as quickly as possible. I’m starving.”
“You’re not upset about this, right?” James asked, grabbing the waist of Mandy’s shorts so she couldn’t wander away. “You don’t blame me for her showing up, do you?”
“James, I’ve been unreasonable where Madeline is concerned,” Mandy said, licking her lips. “I trust you. If I gave you the impression I don’t … well … that was mean. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around some things and I took it out on you. That wasn’t fair.”
“Life isn’t fair, baby,” James said, cupping the back of her head. “I would never cheat on you. I wouldn’t want to cheat on you. There’s no other woman who would get so turned on by sharks that she had to jump me in the middle of an underwater feeding frenzy. You’re unique … and you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Right back at you,” Mandy said, smacking her lips against his. “Things are only going to get better when I find those chicken things.”
“Go nuts,” James said, patting her rear end. “I’ll get rid of the wicked witch while you get ready for me to give you a magical afternoon. That sounds just about perfect to me.”
“Me, too.”
“HEY,” Grady said, his voice full of faux brightness as he watched James walk out of the guesthouse.
James checked his boxer shorts to make sure everything was in place and then regarded his brother with a dark look. “Hey? You’ve got some nerve showing up here unannounced on a Sunday.”
“She called and claimed it was important that she see you,” Grady said. “I tried calling, but you guys didn’t answer.”
“Our cell phones are in the house,” James said, tugging his hand through his hair. “I forgot about that. I’m sorry. We got distracted.”
“I noticed,” Grady said, grinning. “I see Mandy finally got up the courage to go back to the guesthouse. Did you take my advice and carry her in there?”
“She went on her own,” James replied. “I did follow her like a lost puppy dog, though. She loves what you did with the space, by the way. She almost cried.”
“I don’t want her to cry,” Grady protested. “That’s supposed to be a happy place.”
“Oh, it’s a happy place.” James’ smile was sly. “It was a happy place twice already today.”
Grady snorted. “What was her favorite part?”
“It’s hard to say,” James said. “She loved that shark head you found with the scuba tank. She jumped me when I showed her the shark videos I put in, though.”
“I’m glad she’s happy,” Grady said, sobering. “She deserves a little happiness.”
“She’s going to get even more once I take care of the Madeline situation,” James said, glancing around the patio. “Where did she go?”
“She headed inside,” Grady said. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“No. I want you to and help Mandy find the pancake molds she’s looking for. I think she wants to thank you in private for wha
t you did to the guesthouse. This is the perfect opportunity.”
“You want me to keep her busy so Madeline doesn’t say anything mean, right?”
James nodded. “I’m this close to ending our little business arrangement,” he said, lifting his pinched fingers for emphasis. “We both know why she insisted on seeing me. She was pretty obvious at the festival yesterday.”
“I didn’t even know she was at the festival yesterday,” Grady admitted. “What did she say?”
“She showed up in the booth across from us when Mandy was looking at art prints and then when I got back to the picnic table with our lunch she was sitting with Mandy and made a point of asking if Mandy forced me to go to art fairs with her,” James replied. “I’m sick of her. I shouldn’t have taken the job. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking you needed a distraction to keep your mind off Mandy,” Grady supplied. “It sounds like Mandy is almost back to her old self, though. I don’t think you need a distraction any longer.”
“She’s almost back to her old self,” James agreed. “Now I just have to get her to hold the baby.”
“You won’t hold the baby.”
“I won’t hold the baby for different reasons,” James clarified. “She still sees blood on her hands and she doesn’t want to hold the baby with tainted hands. I hate that. She rid the world of an animal and she feels guilty about it. I don’t know how to fix it, but today was a good start.”
“I’ll check on Mandy,” Grady said, patting his brother’s shoulder. “Wait … she’s dressed, right? I’m afraid to see her naked.”
“You make me want to beat you,” James muttered, turning toward the house.
“WHAT’S up, kid?” Grady asked, appearing in the doorway to Mandy’s studio a few minutes later. “I hear you need help looking for pancake molds.”
“I found them,” Mandy said, waving the package gripped in her hand as she stood. “I was just checking my paint supplies to see if I needed to buy anything before doing the mural downstairs. Thank you for that, by the way. You have no idea how much you’ve … touched me.”
Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) Page 7