by D. A. Young
Graham’s hands slid down her back to cup her bottom and press her to him as Annabelle rose on her tiptoes to meet him. The time apart had exceeded torturous, and it was several long moments before they finally came up for air. Graham brushed the thick black curls from her forehead, staring into Annabelle’s eyes with something akin to wonder.
She was here, but at what cost?
“You took down your braids.” He gently tugged on a shoulder-length curl and watched it spring back into place when he released it. “The curls suit you, love.”
Annabelle cupped his jaw and ran her fingers over the hair covering it. “Skyping didn’t do you justice, Mr. Carlton. Your beard is insane! How dare you run the streets lookin’ like this! No wonder you got randoms offering you sexual favors.”
Her miffed expression made him grin. Awwww, his baby was jealous. She had no idea of the lockdown she’d put on him, his heart, and his boy. “I don’t fuck with strangers, so we’re all good here, Doc.” Graham licked the corner of her mouth, which led to another round of kissing before he said, “I missed you, woman! You know I’m mad as hell right now, though?”
“I can get behind that because that makes two of us,” Annabelle swiftly countered, stepping back from him with crossed arms, ready for a showdown. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice those goons that were watching us?! Edith almost beamed one of them in the grocery store with a can of soup!”
“Oh, you mad?” Graham pulled her back into him. “Then get mad, Doc, because everyone’s safety is my number one priority, and I make no apologies for it. Now, how did you get here and where are Rory and Edith?”
Before she could answer, Graham’s phone rang. He thought about ignoring it, but maybe it was Warrick or Vechers finally calling to say they fucked up and lost her. Graham pulled his phone out and saw Alexei Romankov’s number. With a look of fond exasperation for his woman, he took the call.
“Hey, Alexei. Please tell Vivienne I’m not sure whether I’m angry or sending her flowers,” Graham informed him dryly.
On the other end, the Russian’s shout of laughter filled his ears. When he spoke, his aggravation for his wife was apparent. “It appears we are in the same boat, my friend. Do not worry, Graham. I will find a suitable form of discipline that she and I will both enjoy. As I’m sure Max will as well, though, I find it hard to be mad at your sister whose designs are nothing short of ingenious! I’m relieved to hear that you know I was unaware of her shenanigans. This call is to also let you know that your family is here with mine, and they are being well taken care of.”
“Thank you, Alexei.”
“Your thanks are unnecessary, my friend. Darby has been filling me in on your situation, and my men are available to you as well. My wife wisely left some of them in Baymoor. Before leaving, Vivi made sure the security detail Darby has patrolling the farm had already been debriefed.”
“Damn. Women definitely run this world,” Graham said with admiration. “Now, if we could just get one in the White House.”
“I concur. Or at least someone who has the countries best interest at heart? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find my wife. Congratulations on your lovely family, Graham,” Alexei said warmly. “Your daughter is absolutely enchanting and Edith is marvelous. If I may make a suggestion? Don’t be too hard on your woman. We both know what we’d do for the ones that we love. Your Annabelle seems brave and fearless, just like my Vivi. Those aren’t bad qualities at all to have in a spouse. I look forward to meeting her.”
“Likewise. Would you mind sending me Laura Klaus’s information?”
“Yes, of course. Vivienne mentioned that she wanted to discuss it with Edith as well.”
Dr. Laura Klaus was a therapist and family friend to the Romankovs, and the Sullivan brothers. She’d been there from the time the brothers’ mother, Moira, was murdered by their father when they were much younger. Although grown men now, they still occasionally saw her for therapy sessions. This was a definite benefit to having Annabelle and Edith stateside. To his knowledge, neither of them had yet to see a therapist, but after all they’d endured, Graham was going to strongly recommend it.
“My friend, I know that you and my son are frustrated with the lack of results. After everything I went through to find Vivi’s blackmailer, the most important thing I learned is that vengeance and patience go hand-in-hand, but no matter how frustrating the wait, the end result will be worth the trouble.”
The men said their goodbyes, and Graham turned to find Annabelle studying the black and white family pictures on his gallery wall before exploring the office Eliza had designed for him. It was painted light gray and his desk was black with built-in bookshelves on both sides and picture frames, commissioned from Jack’s company, Americana Traditions. His leather chair was an oxblood color as were the two club chairs across from it and the tufted leather sofa beneath the photos. There was a mini bar and high-top table with stools in one corner. “What’s your verdict on my spot, Doc?”
“This place definitely suits you. Very masculine and sleek yet cozy at the same time.” She spun around with a soft smile. “Your niece is very beautiful.”
Annabelle moved to his desk and picked up a framed pic next to his black and chrome globe lamp. It was an eight by ten black and white picture of her and Rory sleeping on the beach. “You sneaky devil! I was sooo busted-looking by the end of that day, boo! How could you frame that?!”
“Woman, you could fall into a pile of manure and I still wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
“Oooh, that’s so sweet. Really, babe?”
“Hell no,” Graham laughed when Annabelle sucked her teeth at him. He approached her and dropped another kiss on her pouting mouth, kissing away her sulky expression. He pulled her hand, and she followed him around to the other side of his desk where he sat down in his chair and she sat down on his lap. “That picture stays. I like looking at my girls when I’m working late at night. Real talk, Annabelle. I was missing y’all like crazy and am glad you’re here, but I wish you’d have said something before up and leaving. If anything had happened to the three of you…”
“And I wish you had told me about Gus!” she fired back. “I was here when he first arrived at Cinnamon Farms. He was such a sweetheart. You should have told me, Graham. He didn’t deserve that.”
“I didn’t tell you about Gus for this very reason! You’re an excellent doctor who cares deeply for your patients and becomes too invested in them. When I showed up on your doorstep, I had every intention of being a manipulative asshole and using Gus against you because I knew you’d want to come back. Then I saw Rory and got a glimpse of just how good your life was.” Graham rubbed his hand over his jaw, his eyes filled with regret. “I couldn’t do that to you guys.”
“So you thought you’d do it without me? It’s not exactly working out that well, and it’s only keeping us apart,” Annabelle said with a stubborn expression. “We need to work together! Edith and Rory are safe so we can focus. I know this asshole better than anyone. Nothing will keep him away if he thinks he can get to me.”
“I don’t like it!” Graham snapped, unwilling to concede that she was right. “I don’t want you using yourself as bait.”
“That’s funny because you didn’t have a problem with that idea before you found out about Rory!” she tossed back flippantly.
They glared at each other, both too stubborn and unwilling to back down. A knock at the door interrupted them.
“Mario is here with the smoked turkey wings!” Georgina called cheerfully.
“Tell him to prep them, and I’ll be there shortly! Don’t forget you and I need to talk about your ‘helpfulness’.” Graham snapped back at her irritably.
“Don’t talk to my friend like that!” Annabelle defended Georgie. “She was only trying to help me.”
“Your lil’ friend is my baby sister, and I was cleaning her snotty face waaay before she met you. I knew I shoulda let her leave the house with a crusty booger fa
ce,” Graham muttered.
“You’re terrible!” Annabelle gave him a brief kiss and reluctantly slid from his lap. “I know you’re mad, but I still looove you in spite of it. I’ll let you get back to work.”
“I love you too, but this conversation isn’t finished, Annabelle,” Graham warned her as he stood and fished his suite key out of his jean pocket. “Where’s your stuff at? I’m going to put it in my room.”
“Ummm…” Annabelle worried her bottom lip, knowing Graham wasn’t going to like her reply. “It’s at Max and Georgie’s house.”
The silence in the room was deafening, then Graham spoke in an ominously soft tone. “What’s it doing there?”
“I’m going to be helping out at the farm, so Georgie offered me your old room. It’s easier because I’m already on property. You won’t have to worry about me so much because Tavish and Max will be with me throughout the day,” Annabelle replied feebly. “I’ll be fine with them.”
If Graham thought he’d been heated before, he was positively livid now. Protecting her was his job and no one else’s. Normally, he didn’t have a problem with the easygoing, burly Scotsman, but game recognized game, and Tavish was a womanizer whose dick refused to stay under his imaginary kilt. It didn’t matter to Graham that he was hooking up with Renee, Georgie’s assistant. The Scot had a fondness for thick, voluptuous women, and they just didn’t come any curvier than Annabelle. Fuck no, he wouldn’t be leaving them alone. Again, Graham felt out of his element. He thought he didn’t do jealousy, but his unchecked, scattered emotions called bullshit.
“Well, I’m going to go now. We’re doing lunch at the farmhouse with the girls in an hour. Hopefully, you and I can get together later?”
Annabelle opened the door, but Graham was right behind her. He placed his hand on hers and shut it; his other hand swept her curls to the side, exposing her nape. She shivered when his teeth grazed her neck before he nipped its slender column. Annabelle inhaled sharply as Graham growled, “We’re not quite done yet, Doc.”
So damn hot. There was no other way to put it. Annabelle knew she was playing with fire the minute she made her choice to come home. Yes, her man had been ecstatic to see her, but Annabelle knew Graham was angry at her impulsiveness as well. They were in the middle of their first disagreement, and she couldn’t help but marvel at the difference between him and Davis. She would never have been able to get away with voicing her opinion and standing up for herself without fearing a retaliation of some kind.
Graham was definitely displeased with her, but if the hardness at her ass was an indication, he clearly knew a better way to channel his emotions. So yeah, she was aroused and becoming increasingly so as she felt air touch her thighs when Graham lifted the full skirt of her black cashmere turtleneck dress. Annabelle smiled to herself, as this time, Graham was the one to sharply inhale at his discovery.
“You’re not wearing any panties, Doc.”
Feral was the only way to describe his voice that was low and thick with need. He wrapped an arm around her waist and jerked her back against him. With her stiletto boots on, Annabelle came to his chin, and in this new position, her head fell back comfortably to his shoulder as his hand moved around to stroke the thin landing strip of fine curls covering her sex.
“Since when do you leave the damn house with no panties on??”
Annabelle tried to control her whimpers as Graham inserted his thigh between hers, allowing his fingers more access to slip between her saturated folds and massage her sensitized clit before descending lower.
“Aaaahhhh!” she cried out as he sank two digits into her welcoming pussy. Annabelle swiveled her hips, savoring the feel of Graham’s fingers reacquainting themselves with the throbbing bundle of nerves of her g-spot. Goddamn pussy-whisperer was what he was, Annabelle thought, dazed by the way he made her entire body come alive as he effortlessly navigated it with minimal work.
Graham’s head fell to her shoulder, and he bit her neck again and breathed deeply, inhaling her spicy-floral perfume that melded beautifully with her arousal to create an even more alluring scent as his fingers were suctioned deeper into her tight core. Against her throat, Graham whispered, “That’s not really an answer, love. Try again.”
Annabelle turned her head flicking the seam of his lips with her tongue tantalizingly as his fingers curled deliciously inside of her then retreated only to add a third finger while his thumb rotated between massaging her clit and lightly flickering it. Sweet baby Jesus in a manger, what this man did to her!
Her voice was thick with desire and longing as she grinded against him. “Since I was coming to see my man, I thought I should dress appropriately. Now, I’m rethinking my choice since you’re trippin’. Should I go and put some on, Mr. Carlton?”
Graham withdrew his fingers slowly and pinched her clit firmly, causing Annabelle’s knees to buckle. She would have fallen against the door if he wasn’t still supporting her. Graham coated her lips with her own arousal and kissed Annabelle voraciously, sharing her taste while greedily sucking and licking her lips clean. He stepped away from her, and she heard a rustling sound behind her as Graham asked, “What do you think, Doc?”
Annabelle whirled around to find Graham, his face starkly etched in desire, unbuttoning his light blue denim shirt that he quickly tossed aside, revealing the glory of his chest and arms to her. Eyes drinking him in, Annabelle purred, “I thought you had to deal with something in the kitchen?”
Graham framed her face between his hands and backed her up against the door, kissing her thoroughly. “Fuck the kitchen. Get naked, Doc. Now.”
She grabbed the bottom of her dress and yanked it over her head, leaving her in a black lace bra and her boots. Annabelle bent to unzip them, but Graham caught her hand and shook his head no. “Them boots are staying on, woman.”
Annabelle straightened up, and Graham unsnapped her bra to reveal her luscious breasts. He was so fucking hard, he felt suffocated in his jeans but never had he enjoyed himself more. Annabelle continued to surprise him, and he’d take everything she threw at him because although Graham was still pissed, it was all about trust. If she didn’t feel it, then he wouldn’t be about to fuck the hell outta her right now. But Annabelle had her shit severely twisted if she thought Graham wasn’t going to do anything about it.
She made short work of unbuckling his belt, unsnapping his jeans, and easing his boxer briefs down until everything fell around his boots. Graham toed them off, including his socks as Annabelle wrapped her hand around his dick and pleasured him while her lips caught his nipple in her mouth and she drew circles around it with her tongue.
“Fuuuuck, Doc!” Graham hissed and smacked her ass firmly.
“Mmmm, yes, please,” she teased him as she switched to the other nipple, and her strokes became firmer as he pinched her turgid nipples. Annabelle’s booty stung deliciously as Graham smacked the other cheek, causing the desire in her to vibrate to another level. “I can’t wait any longer, Graham. It’s been tooo long.”
Suddenly, Graham remembered something. “Shit! I don’t have any condoms on me. Stay here! Don’t move or even think about putting your clothes back on! I’ll be right back!”
Annabelle vigorously shook her head with a teasing smile and her love for him in her eyes. “Uh-uh, you ain’t goin’ nowhere. I bought some! They’re in my purse. Hurry, baby.”
Graham grabbed her large bag on the console next to them and opened it. He was stunned as he looked down at the bag’s contents, then back at her, then down at the bag again before laughing at her. “The fuck?! Were you preparing for the apocalypse? There’s easily twelve boxes in here!” He gave her roguish grin. “I do appreciate your faith in my abilities and stamina, though.”
Annabelle scowled at him as she crossed her arms defensively. “That’s the thanks I get for being thoughtful? I couldn’t remember what you used, so I just grabbed everything the store had, you ingrate!”
“Which I’ll gladly put to good use an
d you’ll thank me profusely.” Graham selected a box and tore it open. He grabbed a packet and ripped it open with his teeth before quickly sheathing himself expertly with one hand. He crooked his finger at her. “C’mere, Doc.”
Smile back in place, Annabelle followed Graham, drooling at the view and the way his muscles flexed with each step as he led her back to his office chair. It should be illegal to cover his fineness by wearing clothes. Then again, she’d have to spend the rest of their life together beating women off with a stick if he didn’t.
“Have a seat,” Graham gestured with a smile that was way too wicked for Annabelle resist. Once she was seated, he knelt before her and spread her legs wide by positioning them over the chair’s arms before diving between them.
Annabelle cried out as Graham covered her with his mouth and put his lips, tongue and teeth to work, like an ugly, peg-legged stripper trying to make rent. He eased two fingers into her slickness and thrummed on her g-spot as Annabelle bucked wildly against him. “Oh, gawd! Please don’t stop, baby! Yessss, just like that!”
His pussy-eating skills were thorough as fuck, Annabelle thought dazedly as she wrapped her legs around his head tighter than a Boy Scout knot and rode his face, feeling her orgasm tingling in her toes and slowly working its way up her body. She met and held Graham’s stare as he worked her over expertly. But her eyes crossed then fell to the back of her head when Graham switched it up to tongue fuck her as his fingers tweaked her swollen clit. Suddenly, he smacked it, setting off a trail of fireworks through her body. “Holly Shiiiiit!”
Annabelle came so hard that she couldn’t catch her breath as her orgasm spread like a wildfire through her convulsing body. On and on it went as Graham rotated his fingers and tongue again. By her third orgasm, Annabelle was depleted and trying to push him away, but Graham had other plans.
He could have stayed face-down in her pussy for the rest of his life. Annabelle tasted that good, but those damn boots were digging into his shoulders, reminding him of his plans for them. Graham licked his lips clean as he stood up and took her hand. Weak-kneed, she fell against him, but Graham turned her around and bent her over the chair so that Annabelle clutched at the arms. With the added height of the boots, Annabelle was at the perfect height for Graham to sink into her.