My Miracle (A Rough Hands Novella Book 1)

by C. M. Steele

  “Ben,” she moans between kisses.

  “Say it, Mira.”

  “I’m yours, Ben.” I press my hips forward, rocking my thickness on her sweet center. Bunching up her dress, I move my fingers along the seam of her panties, feeling how wet she is. She’s fucking drenched. I can’t wait to bury myself into her warm pussy and marking it as mine. She’ll forget every other lover before me. Violently, I tear off her panties then slide my body down hers until I’m kneeling in front of her. I have to taste her before I take what’s mine.

  I nudge her thighs apart, then lift one of them onto my shoulder, my face pressing into her pussy. She shakes and moans, her hands hitting the wall. “Fuck, you taste so damn good. I’m going to eat you up.” Reaching up, I cup her breast, tweaking her dark pink nipples one at a time. I slip one finger into her pussy, and it’s so tight, I know I’m going to hurt her. She screams out, and I feel her clenching around my finger. I lap up every drop. Her puffy lower lips are pink and glistening, but we’re not done yet.

  She lifts my shirt out of my jeans, and I help her take it off me. She runs her hands over my chest, and I do my best to control myself. I work off my belt and shoes, then push down my jeans and boxer briefs. My cock is hard as fuck and dribbling pre-cum down the tip. I stroke the length then squeeze the tip to stop myself from coming like a teen.

  “I need to claim you.”

  “Take me, Ben,” she says wildly. I lift her into my arms, lining up my cock with her heat, thrusting all the way in. I feel my cum pull from my balls and fill her depths as I shred through her innocence. I freeze, staring into her teary eyes.

  “Babe, you forgot to tell me something?”

  “I didn’t want you to stop.”

  “Fuck, I wouldn’t have stopped unless you wanted me to stop. You’re mine, but I could have been gentler.”

  “It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I promise.” She clenches around my cock who hasn’t gone down despite unloading my seed deep inside of her. Fuck, the thought of my kid in her keeps my dick rock solid. I grab onto her ass and carry her to the bedroom which is easy to find in the one-bedroom apartment. I sit down on the bed with her impaled on my cock. “Ride me, Mira. I want to watch you take my dick the way you want.”

  She clenches and gushes for me. I suck on her ample breasts wrapping my arms around her back and into her hair. She rolls her hips, then rocks them, learning what she likes. My head moves to hers tasting her mouth. I tug on her hair, tilting her head back and giving me access to her slender neck. I suck on her pulse hard enough to mark her as mine as we both come.

  Chapter 5

  Mira

  We didn’t make it to dinner, but we raided my fridge. “I’m still hungry,” Ben growls, grabbing my ankles and sliding me down closer to the edge of the sofa. His head between my legs. Over and over his tongue glides across my tender lips. His beard rubs my thighs as he eats my pussy until I’m shaking out the third orgasm of the night. He climbs up my body, completely naked with his big cock at my entrance. He kisses me rough and hard before turning me around.

  With my knees on the sofa, he spreads my thighs wider and thrusts into me from behind. The fullness steals my breath for a moment, but I release it as his lips brush against the shell of my ear. “I’m going to fuck my son into you,” he whispers gruffly. I clench around his cock. I’m on birth control, and we both know it, but it’s such a turn on. “You like that don’t you, Mira. You want me to tie you to me. Fuck, I could tie you to the bed and worship you forever. Would you like that?” he asks, tugging on my hair with his lips an inch from mine. I moan my reply because I can’t speak. I’m overtaken with pure desire. He thrusts into me hard, and I come, crying out my acceptance.

  He doesn’t pull out. Instead, he lays us on our sides on the sofa.

  ****

  I wake up three hours later in my bed. I look around wondering how I got here, then I remember he carried me in his strong arms back to bed. The sheets are cool to the touch, but my hand lands on a piece of paper. Ben left a note for me. Sorry, babe. I need to get to work. I didn’t want to wake you. Damn, you’re so beautiful. Remember, you’re mine. No take-backs.

  I laugh, kissing the note with his masculine handwriting. I sigh and roll onto my back with a smile. Last night was amazing. I can’t believe I gave him my virginity. Then again, I can remember the feeling of his hands caressing every inch of me. His thick cock stretching me.

  The alarm on my phone goes off as I spend countless minutes reliving those moments. I have to go to talk to my cousin and get more information on where my books are at.

  Chapter 6

  Ben

  Fuck, walking away from her naked ass had been harder than I thought possible. I left a note, but I wanted to wake her up and slip my dick back into her heat. It’s more than the sex. My heart physically ached to leave her. She is my miracle. I started to let work consume me to the point that if I wasn’t working, I was sleeping.

  My family and I hardly ever see each other. My dad and I don’t see eye to eye about my life choices. He wanted better for me. Somehow, owning a business which is super successful wasn’t enough because I had to work with my hands. He worked with his hands, but he didn’t come home filthy with aching muscles. I loved it. When I worked in my grandfather’s lumber yard, I stayed out of trouble and away from girls which as a teenager had been all I thought about. I was like any boy that age, all raging hormones.

  After getting into a fight over a girl who I didn’t even want, my gramps set me down. At seventeen, my whole summer was spent working on building a house. Since then I’ve been all hands on, and women were all a thing of the past.

  Now, I wished I waited for Mira. Life doesn’t give you a gift like her every day. My woman must be treasured.

  “Hey boss, do you mind paying attention?”

  “What?” Shit, I didn’t hear a word Brenda said.

  “I knew you weren’t paying attention. I wanted you to know that your clients are here to talk about a remodeling project.”

  “Okay. Give me a minute and put them in the conference room.” She nods and leaves. I have a medium-sized warehouse with a space for the administrative functions in the front. It’s about the size of a realtor’s office. I gather my legal pad and pens, then move my ass before I lose myself in thoughts of Mira.

  It’s almost ten when I get out of the meeting and send Mira a message. I fucking miss her like an obsessed fool.

  Her text comes back, and I go blank. I want to kick my own ass. She must know the truth. I call her and message her repeatedly, trying to defend myself, but it’s not working. I won’t give up. Not until I take my last breath.

  Chapter 7

  Mira

  “Tommy, where is it? Don’t fucking lie to me again.” I’m down at his office in downtown Chicago, leaning over his expensive desk. It’s a trip I didn’t have time to make, but he refuses to return my calls. I have to be in the lab soon.

  “I don’t know. Maybe my mother sold them.” I want to climb over his desk and pound his fat head in. I may have always been little compared to them, but I’ve never been above fighting dirty.

  “Bullshit. The books were in her will. You’re an asshole, and I know you or David did something with them. They were in the special case.”

  “I don’t know, Miracle.” He smirks because he hates me, and I hate my real name.

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “I can’t help your parents have shitty taste in names. Here.” He hands me an envelope with a cashier’s check for three hundred thousand dollars. I stand there with my mouth gaping open. “Now get out of my office. You have your part of the money from the sale that ends our relationship.”

  “The sale of what?” I narrow my brows. The book wasn’t worth that much, but if it’s that he’s going to pay.

  “The estate. Duh. Where the fuck have you been? The lawyer sent you several emails.”

  “I didn’t sign off on anything.”

 
; “It was handled by our attorneys per the agreement in the will. The owner is renovating it as we speak. You didn’t talk to him?”

  “I only spoke to two workers.”

  “Well, the owner of the company renovating is the owner of the house. Benedict Carrington is the name on the bill of sale. You need to check your emails and stop hanging around the slums of the city.” I flush with anger and embarrassment. My chest hurts. He’s the owner of my old home. I can’t believe that he didn’t say a word about it.

  “You’re evil, Mr. Jackass.” I storm out of his office. I’m too angry to see straight, so I try to walk it off. I have to work in an hour and processing all of the evidence correctly takes concentration. Right now I can’t focus. All I see is red. We’ve spoken twice and messaged each other, and not once did he say that he bought the house.

  And like that my phone chimes with a text from Ben. Good morning, beautiful. I blush even though, I’m pissed off. I can’t control the smile that crosses my face despite wanting to punch him in the nuts.

  I reply as I go to my car. Lose my number. Seconds later, my phone is ringing, and just as it stops—it starts again. I drive into the lot for work and mentally prepare myself. I look and see I have two messages from him.

  I play the first one: Mira, I’m sorry. I was going to tell you about the house, but…I didn’t know how to bring it up without you walking away. I’m not letting this go, so go to work, but we’re going to talk about this later.

  As I’m preparing to exit my car, I freeze and decide to play the other one: I really am sorry, Mira. From the first second I saw you…I knew you were special to me. I don’t know how to say this, and it should be said in person, but I’m crazy about you. You’re funny, smart, and stubborn. I don’t think the last one is good in this case, but I just need to see you.

  I don’t respond. I have important work to do.

  Chapter 8

  Ben

  Fuck. She refuses to answer my calls. I can’t let her get away this easily. I knew from the first time I met her that she was the one.

  “Boss, I have something for you.” She hands me a print out of a page. I look at the recent auction. “I have the number. Do you want me to call them?”

  “No. I’ll handle it.” She gave me the number, and I dialed it without a moment to waste.

  “Holden Antiques, Leonardo speaking. How may I assist you today?”

  “I am calling about the lot #HA2214553.”

  “Ah yes, the Austen masterpiece. It already has several bids on it. The auction closes in one week.”

  “Yes. I would halt the auction. I believe the books are stolen.”

  “What? Who are you?”

  “I’m a concerned friend of the true owner.”

  “I assure you that the books have been authenticated with a letter from the lawyer of the family selling them.”

  “According to your page, the family name is Richmond. If they are the one in the same, they have been bequeathed in a will to a family member who has threatened to sue for them.”

  “You cannot be serious.” The utter panic in his voice was evident. Whether it’s genuine because he was duped or because someone found out he was dealing in stolen merchandise remained to be seen.

  “I am. And you know the sale of stolen goods is punishable by jail time.”

  “It’ll ruin me if you’re correct,” he exclaims.

  “If this is the copy I believe it is, then yes it could ruin you.”

  “I need to figure out a plan.”

  I try to ease his stress. I can’t freak the guy out. I don’t want him to do something stupid, like jump out a building. “I don’t want to ruin you. That’s not my plan. I just want my woman to have her books back. She’s been devastated about the loss.”

  “I’ll contact the lawyer and the police if he refuses to respond to my request. I can’t cancel the auction.”

  “I would do whatever you can to make it right.”

  “Thank you.”

  I gave him my contact information. And hung up after a strong warning that I wanted my woman to get back what belonged to her. Now, to deal with the shitstorm I caused myself.

  *****

  I’m standing outside her apartment, waiting for her to get home. When she pulls up, she doesn’t notice me.

  “You don’t know when to quit.”

  “Actually, babe, I thought I made it clear that you’re mine.”

  “When you bought the house, you didn’t buy me with it.”

  “If that’s what’s bothering you so much I’ll finish the remodel and sell it. I didn’t know you or your family before I bought a house that I’ve always wanted. I had no idea how you’d feel. I see that you hate the idea of it.”

  “It’s not that I hate the idea. It’s the fact that you lied to me by omission,” she screams at me.

  “Yeah, well, when you came there you were under the impression that it was still on the market. I didn’t want to freak you out after you fainted. Then like I said, I didn’t know how you’d take it.”

  “Were you ever going to tell me or wait until you got your fill and left.”

  “See the thing you’re missing, sweetheart, is I’m not going anywhere. You can be mad, you can refuse to talk to me, but I’m not losing you.”

  She opened and closed her mouth several times before saying, “I need time.”

  “When do you work?”

  “From now until Sunday.”

  “And that’s how long you have. After that, I’m coming full force for what’s mine. And babe, I’m just as stubborn as you are.” I lean down and slam my mouth to hers for a quick and possessive kiss. “Now go inside before it starts storming.”

  “Drive safe.”

  “Always.” I get to my truck just as the sky rains down on me. She’s standing in the doorway with a hand over her mouth, giggling.

  Chapter 9

  Mira

  It’s Monday morning. The sun isn’t even all the way up when my doorbell rings. I rush to the door hoping it’s Ben, but it’s a delivery man with a package and a clipboard. “Miracle Richmond?” he asks.

  “Yes, that is me,” I reply with questions on the tip of my tongue.

  “I have a delivery for you. Please sign.”

  I see the shades of the telltale sun rising behind him. “It’s early for deliveries isn’t it.”

  “Yes, this is a special delivery.”

  “Okay.” I sign the form, and he hands me a wooden box with the copy of the form I signed. The box has the word fragile on each side. It reminds me of shipping crates, but small enough for me to carry. I set it on the coffee table, then lock the door.

  I look at the shipping slip, and it’s from an auction house in New York.

  I’m breathing hard because this could only be one thing. I go into my work kit and do a double check to make sure the package doesn’t have anything dangerous inside. I scan it, and it’s safe. I pop open the crate to find my aunt’s copy of Pride and Prejudice. There is a letter inside.

  Dear Ms. Richmond,

  Please accept our deepest and most sincere apologies. Along with several other pieces, this immaculate historical treasure was sent for auction. After reviewing the documentation, we realize that a mistake had been made and the book was not listed for sale. After contacting the seller, we corrected the error.

  I am truly honored to have been able to view the masterpiece. If you should ever wish to sell it, our evaluation is included. It would take at least a hundred thousand dollars at auction.

  Again, please accept our apology.

  Sincerely sorry,

  Leonardo D’Amato

  Holden Antiques

  I pull them out, being completely careful. They are wrapped and protected so perfectly. I called my cousin Tommy. He answered on the first ring. “I heard you got your books back,” he says.

  “How did you know?”

  “They called my office. I could be charged with a crime. That stupid auctioneer cont
acted the police, you dumb bitch.”

  “You mean theft? The selling of stolen goods? Like you said before we’re done. We have nothing left to say to each other.”

  “It’s okay. You’ll pay for it soon.”

  The day passes without Ben contacting me, and I’m starting to freak out. He did as he promised and gave me my work week to decide, but it’s Monday night, and I haven’t heard a lick from him. I had my answer the second the rain came pouring down as he drove away. If it wasn’t for my asshole cousin calling me, I would have told him to come back. In the morning with a clear head, I decided to give it the full time allotted. I knew I was in love with him. That was without a doubt, but did absence make the heart grow fonder or would I be able to forget about him. The answer was most definitely fonder. I missed him like I needed my next breath.

  I spent the day dressed in the prettiest little skirt and top just waiting. I finally caved and texted him and got nothing back. I called, but it goes straight to voicemail. Nothing. I wonder if he broke his phone.

  I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, on the verge of tears staring at my phone.

  I fall asleep in until Suddenly it rings. It’s a number I don’t know, but maybe Ben’s calling from a different number. “Hello?”

  “Hello, is this Mira?”

  “It is. Who is this?”

  “I’m Brenda, Ben’s office assistant.”

  I take a deep breath because I’m doing my best not to be jealous of this woman, but it’s not working. “Wow, he sent you to dump me?”

  “No, I need you to come to Stroger Hospital. Ben was in an accident last night.”

  “Oh no. I’m on my way.”

  I do my best to get there in one piece, but tears are streaming down my eyes. I pushed him away, and I could lose him.

  I arrive on his floor only to see him storming out of his room, yelling at a nurse. “I don’t care what you say. I have to claim my woman. I can’t break my promise.”