Epilogue
Two months later…
During those moments when you’re faced with death, we humans are compelled to make promises to ourselves, to God, to whomever will hear our pleas. I did that when presented with the possibility that I’d lose the first man I’d loved since losing James.
Then again, when confronted with losing my best friend in the entire world. No woman should have to deal with those things. So yeah, I made promises to God, to Collier, to Tripp, but mostly to myself. I think I’ve stuck to them. But I deserve a fucking medal of honor for spending the last two months playing nursemaid to two very opinionated and outspoken men in pain.
Between Tripp’s incessant whining about pain because he only allowed himself a half a pain pill every eight hours instead of the requisite two every four to six hours, he’s been a regular thorn in my side.
Then there’s Collier, who spent more time than not fighting with me about helping him. Finally, the cavalry showed up.
Aspen sent a sexy assed nurse in to take care of Tripp while I took care of my man. Honestly, I’d almost rather take care of Tripp. At least with him, I didn’t want to kiss him as much as I wanted to throttle him.
And Collier’s been the handsiest patient in the entire world. Every time I try to re-tape his ribs, he grabs a handful of ass, bites at a nipple while I’m leaned over him or skims those sexy full lips along my neckline. It’s maddening.
Not being able to act on this newfound love has been complete and utter torture of the worst kind. At week four, I couldn’t take the sexual tension anymore and held him down while I sucked him off then let him reciprocate by leaning on his side and kissing me while fingering me into oblivion. It barely took the edge off. It’s not the same as having your man fully joined with you. Today, eight weeks into his recovery, I’m taking my man and riding him into the sunset.
Enough is enough. His ribs have mostly healed, just a bit sensitive. My cast was removed two weeks ago. His casts were removed last week. He’s been living with me and Tripp for two solid months. It was easier than going back and forth between his apartment and ours. Even with the professional nursemaid for Tripp, I still needed to see my guys through this. It’s been a hard two months, but now I feel things have turned around.
Aspen has visited every three or so days. It’s been wonderful watching her belly bump get bigger, Hank’s protectiveness get stronger. Her sonogram showed that she’s going to have a sweet baby girl. That has made recovery a lot easier knowing we had something to look forward to.
Tomorrow, I’m bringing Collier back to his apartment.
Emma’s apartment opened and she’s decided to move to it and stay in the US a while. The guys are working on her business green card. According to Tripp, she’s finally committed to filing for divorce. She’s actually been a regular visitor, visiting her brother every couple days and becoming pretty close friends with Tripp. I suspect she has a bit of a crush on him, which I’d be thrilled to see. Both seem to be cautious of showing anything more in front of Collier but I see the looks they’ve been giving one another and can feel the sexual tension flying off them the second they’re in the same room. I’ve kept that bit of information to myself.
Tripp is aware but has made it a point to not discuss it with me. He only says some sparks did fly at the wedding. I’d like to see him with a good woman…or man for that matter. I want to see him happy and content with his station in life and the place he has in everyone else’s life, including mine.
It’s taken a lot of talking and natural progression with the guys being cooped up with one another but they’ve almost become better friends with each other than Tripp and I have been over the years. Maybe once you leave the physical side out of a relationship you end up with a deeper bond. Aspen and Ollie are like that and those two are barely separated.
I haven’t gone back to work yet, though I have a client set up for next week. Thank God, Nate was scheduled during this timeframe. We were able to postpone his until later next spring. And one of my clients had to cancel their design at the end of March because of a job offer that moved them to Los Angeles--which worked out fine for me. I received a fifteen percent cancellation fee which was a cool fifteen thousand for no work at all.
So I’ll start work on Nate’s Manhattan apartment then. I’m looking forward to getting to know him and digging into his world and psyche. He’s a bit of an enigma. Good looking, has a British accent that makes a girl swoon, yet he’s alone. He’s fit and muscular like his brother, makes a shit-ton of money, is extremely successful and a family man, but doesn’t have anyone? When I asked Collier about it, he shrugged and said he’s a piss poor judge of character.
I finished packing most of Collier’s clothes to go back to his apartment. He’s been acting weird about it all day. You’d think a man would want to go home after being held up in my master bedroom for two months and sharing a space with my best friend. Hasn’t made for a lot of privacy or intimacy for that matter. At least with him going back home, we’ll be alone. Finally.
“You bloody cock-sucking Yank!” Collier screamed from the other room. Yeah, space would be great.
“Blow me, Bond!” Tripp yelled back.
“That doesn’t even make sodding sense, you halfwit imbecile!” Collier roared back.
I rolled my eyes and made my way into the living room.
The two of them were deep into some first-person shooter video game. Apparently they were not on the same team during this particular match. When that happened, insults flew freely, mostly pertaining to Collier being British and Tripp being American.
“What the hell? You shoot like a pansy assed little prick!” Tripp shot off.
“Arsehole…stuff it before I stuff it for you!” Collier moved his shoulders left and right. Tripp followed as if they were actually sniping and hiding out avoiding predators. It was hysterical to see two grown men resort to being teenagers when they had a joystick in their hand.
“Oh wait. Ah ha! Gotcha you, bloody wanker. You can’t hide from me!” Collier jumped up in victory, then winced and grabbed his ribs.
I ran to his side to lay my fingers along the taped ribs. “Hey, baby, be careful. You’re just now feeling better. You can’t be jumping around like that.”
“Ha ha. Your woman told you!” Tripp looked at Collier smugly and made his way into the kitchen. “Must suck to answer to a woman all the time!”
“At least I have a woman to suck on me, you sore-losing bastard!”
“Guys, stop it. Jesus. I hate these video game wars. I’m so glad you’re going home tomorrow.”
“Really?” Collier’s eyes crinkled tightly together. “Why wait until tomorrow then,” Collier said in a huff. “I’m well enough now.” He slung the words over his shoulder as he stomped into the master bedroom.
“Bridge, what the fuck?” I whirled on Tripp, eyebrows arched to the sky. “Can’t you see he’s sensitive about leaving you?”
My shoulders slumped as I leaned against the arm of the couch. “That hadn’t dawned on me. It’s not like he’s leaving me, exactly. I mean, he’s just going back home.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to go?” Tripp shrugged. “Talk to him. Go see what’s up.”
“Yeah, okay. You good?”
“Bridge, I’m fine. Stop nursing me. I’m practically perfect. Now, go after your man. Fix your stupid comment.”
“Okay, okay. Jeez, Louise. Sometimes I forget whose best friend you are.”
Tripp shrugged and smiled, then took a drink of Gatorade. “I’d have to say now that it’s both of you. I still love you more than anyone though. But I’m rather fond of our James Bond.” He swatted my ass and turned me toward my bedroom. “Go get your man. I’m heading for a walk to the local bookstore. Emma’s meeting me there for a coffee. Or tea and a biscuit.” He snickered and rolled his eyes. Tripp loved to make fun of Collier’s accent and now Emma’s. I think he did it to Emma more for personal reasons and to flirt than to admonish.
Then it dawned on me. Alone. Completely alone. Shit. For the first time in two months, Collier and I would have the apartment completely to ourselves. And I’ve gone and pissed off my man. Just my luck.
Once I heard the front door click and lock, I half ran to the master bedroom. I found Collier unceremoniously tossing clothing into a box. Some of it was mine, but he didn’t notice, obviously having something important on his mind.
“You realize you’re throwing my clothes in that box. You movin’ me out of here?”
He stopped and gave me the most heated look I’d seen in two long months. Instantly, my heart hammered, my blood thrummed and that sexual connection sizzled in the air.
“Would you consider moving?”
I nodded. “Guess it depends on who’s asking and what they’re asking for.”
In two strides, he was in front of me. Our bodies a scant inch from each other. It was like two magnets fighting to seal against one another. His hand tunneled into the hair at my nape pulling out the tie to let my hair tumble around my shoulders. He loved my hair and wanted his hands in it constantly. The other hand gripped my hip and urged our lower bodies against one another. I gasped. Instant warmth spread over me as we touched.
“If I asked you to move into my flat, would you consider it?”
“Maybe.”
His eyes closed at my answer. A sense of peace, along with the twinges of desire and lust filled the air. One of his hands trailed up my spine and pulled me into his body. His lips barely touched mine as we breathed in each other’s air, alternating and matching our breaths perfectly.
“Move in with me, Beauty. I don’t want to be without you.”
“Prove it,” I whispered as his lips slanted over mine.
I licked the seam of his lips and deepened the kiss. It was the first full-bodied standing hold we’d had in months. It was everything we needed and more. He ate from my mouth and devoured my kiss. His hands held my face where he wanted so he could plunge his tongue further, leaving no part of me un-kissed. Slowly, he walked us back to the bed. The moment my knees hit the mattress, I took advantage and twirled around him.
My greedy hands unbuttoned his shirt, trying desperately to get to bare skin. Collier was a sight to behold on a good day. Right now, when I was finally about to have my man the way I needed him, he was a masterpiece. I couldn’t wait any longer and yanked at the fabric, the last two buttons skittered along the wood floor. I leaned away from his lips and ripped my shirt over my head. I wanted nothing but skin on skin.
“Christ, you’re beautiful,” he said, his mouth moving down my neck toward the exposed cleavage. I shook my head, not wanting him to hurt his healing ribs.
“Collier. Pants. Off. Now,” I said each word in staccato. “Then get on the bed naked as the day you were born. I’ve waited two long months for this and I’m not going to let you hurt yourself in the process. That will delay us more in the near future and I’m not a risk taker.”
“Bossy bird.” He pretended to be affronted but I was getting to him. If the sheer size and swelling of his cock when he released it from his jeans was any indication, he was most certainly not unhappy. Quite the opposite.
I clasped a hand around his silk-wrapped steel appendage and was rewarded with a groan and a tilt of his head. It was impossible to resist tasting the corded muscle along his neck so I took advantage, running my tongue from his clavicle to his ear. He tasted of salt and sex and I couldn’t wait for more.
“Bed. Now. Please, Collier.”
He slowly prowled along the bed and leaned back against the headboard. The thick length of his cock strained proudly against his abdomen as if it was reaching for its mate. My sex wept with need at the sight. I licked my lips and imagined putting my mouth across the velvety head of his shaft, already anticipating his musky scent and spicy flavor. Collier let me look my fill as I shucked my pants, along with my underwear. Unclipping my bra, I let it fall to the floor. His intake of breath at seeing my bare body was the only indication that he was affected as strongly as I was. His cock twitched at the sight of my bare breasts. Even with his ribs taped, he was my own personal, sexy assed Englishman and I physically itched to take him inside my body.
***
“Come here, Beauty. Be with me.” I licked my lips as the sexiest woman alive crawled up the bed. She straddled my lap, hovering just over my prick. Those blue eyes of hers were almost black and I knew what she wanted.
Slowly, I encircled her waist and slid just my fingertips over each delicate rib, thankful that they were only bruised in the accident. She sighed as I completed the journey up to cup the heavy weight of her glorious breasts, swiping my thumb along each peak in the little circles I knew she liked.
“Take what you want from me,” I told her as I placed my mouth over one nipple, making it pebble and swell like ripened berries as I milked it.
She hovered a moment as I teased and laved at her luscious tits. I could spend all day fondling them, sucking, nibbling, biting. I told her so.
I felt her warmth encase just the tip of my cock. “Look at me,” she requested. I couldn’t deny her anything. As my eyes met hers, she slowly sank down, inch by inch. From tip to the bloody root she took me into her tight, wet, heat. We both exhaled when we were mated completely. The moment was so strong, I knew nothing else could ever compare to it. She was my world now and I’d do anything and everything to ensure she’d be a part of it forever. I was never going to let her go.
London leaned her forehead against mine. “For once in my life, I feel as though I'm right where I belong.”
“Wherever I am is where you belong. I love you, London. Move in with me. Be mine every day.”
She lifted her sexy hips up and slammed down, bringing a rough groan from my lips. “Yes, I will. It’s time.”
Another lift and with this one, I thrust into her. She gasped. Another thrust as she came down once more, then she grinded into my pelvic bone, giving that sweet little clit a good bit of pressure. I held her hips and pressed her harder against me, going as deep as possible, enjoying the little moan she made each time I did.
My girl had the gift of riding cock. Her legs strained and her body bowed as she rode me hard. She planted those delicate hands along my shoulders for leverage and gave me everything. It was the most spectacular vision. Her breasts bounced, skin shined, lips glistened and the sound. Oh, Christ, the sound of her body sucking my cock in and out of her swollen cleft made me insane. I looked down and the petals of her sex opened wide around my prick, hugging me, taking me into her body, her heart, and her soul, sending a spiral of pleasure through every ounce of my body.
A fine sheen of sweat misted our skin and the coiling of tension in my boys was so close to bursting I bit my lip hard to prevent release. My girl wasn’t quite there yet. Mewling sounds left her lips as her breath came in hefty pants. Her body flowed up and came down hard, pounding as if she was trying to force herself to let go, releasing all of the anxiety, the fear, everything and just falling into me…into us.
“Baby, let go,“ I urged and thrust hard into her. I gritted my teeth as the pain in my ribs added to the pleasure in my lower half, coalescing and mixing into a stew of bliss.
“I’m still afraid to fall… she whispered and bowed her back. I took a nipple into my mouth and bit down. Her body shook with the exertion.
“You never have to be afraid to fall. Not with me, London.”
With that her entire body tightened, her sex gripping my prick in a vice as she soared. One, two, three more powerful thrusts and I fell right along with her, gripping and hugging her slick body, keeping us intertwined while we both roared above the heavens through our combined release. Once we came down, I felt tears pelt my back.
“Beauty, why?” I rubbed her spine, worried I’d asked too much, forcing her to drop that last wall.
“You caught me.” She breathed against my neck and ear, tucked tightly against me. I wouldn’t have her anywhere else. Couldn’t
bear to be away from her ever again.
I hugged her tight, chest to chest, skin to skin. Cupping both her cheeks I kissed her lips lightly then waited until her gaze aligned with mine. She was the most precious thing in the world to me and she was all mine. I was never letting her go.
“When my London falls…it will always be me there, waiting to catch you.”
The End
Excerpt - Justice Falling (Book 3 - The Falling Series)
At twenty-eight I considered myself a connoisseur of beautiful women. I’d never had to try to gain a woman’s affection. I’d been told plenty that my good looks were a menace. Even had a hoard of women claim to love me over the years. Not once did I ever feel that a woman was out of my league.
Until now.
The woman’s body was to die for. I watched through the glass as she moved fluidly from her desk, to a file cabinet, and back around. Seemed she was preparing some packets. Her movements were quick, efficient and laser focused on the task. I hadn’t expected this woman when I’d arrived. Yes, she was young. That could be easily determined by her unlined, dewy pale skin. However, I wasn’t prepared for her to be gorgeous… magnificent really. Her hair was the color of a roasting chestnut. Not quite brown, or blonde but more a comingling of all the colors that made Fall my favorite season.
As I watched her work, my body warmed, skin feeling unbearably tight, confined by the three-piece suit I’d donned. She wore a mid-length skirt that barely kissed her knee. I’d heard them referred to as a “pencil skirt” though I hadn’t the slightest bloody idea why. A pencil noted a thin, straight, writing instrument. This woman was slight, yet curvy in all the places that counted, with the tiniest speck of a waist. The heels she had on were attached to toned calves, good God the heels were the skinniest, sexiest spikes. I could imagine those “shag me shoes” around my waist, digging straight into the tender skin of my arse as I worked her over.
Basically she had the body of a Playboy model, her breasts undoubtedly large but covered demurely behind a fitted top that only showed their essence when she bent over to retrieve another page for her folders. Christ, the more I looked my fill the harder I got. It took Herculean effort to not stride in and set a hand to that tight arse and show her exactly what I’d like to do to her.
London Falling (The Falling Series) Page 23